

































































































• 
































,0o. 














































r <±- 









GILES CARTER 

OF VIRGINIA 



GILES CARTER 



OF VIRGINIA 



GENEALOGICAL MEMOIR 



BY 

GENERAL WILLIAM GILES HARDING CARTER 
UNITED STATES ARMY 

Author of "Horses, Saddles, and Bridles," "From Yorktoivn to Santiago," 

"Old Army Sketches," etc. 




THE LORD BALTIMORE PRESS 

BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A. 
1909 









The object of this memoir is to trace the branch of 
the Carter family of Virginia from which the author 
is descended. In pursuit of this object, insistence has 
been had upon authentic records for all statements 
of facts ; traditions have served only as guides in the 
search for original records. The incompleteness of 
the work is fully recognized, but it is hoped that its 
publication at this time may be the means of more 
rapidly developing essential facts than has been ac- 
complished through correspondence. The obstacles 
and delays encountered by the author may be under- 
stood from the mere statement that since the re- 
searches were begun about six years ago, his orders 
have required him to visit England and Europe to 
make certain investigations for the Government, and 
later to command a Department in the Philippine 
I slands, involving an absence of more than two j^ears, 
and t li.it he is now under orders again to proceed to 
foreign service. 






*'? 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Foreword 7 

Identification of Families 17 

Direct Line of Descent 32 

Collateral Lineage 62 

The Berkeley Hundred Colony 84 

The Gloucestershire Colonists 98 

Genealogy 108 

The Author 124 



FOREWORD. 

The great impetus given to genealogical and his- 
torical research in recent years, through the publica- 
tion of rare documents hitherto unavailable, encour- 
aged me to reopen communication with kinsmen, long 
neglected during my wanderings with a marching 
regiment. To my surprise I found these widely scat- 
tered nation builders quite as ignorant of family his- 
tory as myself, possessed only of traditions, many of 
which were wholly dissipated by the strong light of 
scientific research through the musty and scattered 
records of three centuries. After much futile corre- 
spondence it dawned upon me that unless I was pre- 
pared to accept a line of descent by a sort of wireless 
genealogy, I must take the back trail and adhere to it 
f aithfulty whither it might lead. 

The constant shifting of county and parish boun- 
dary lines in Virginia, and the talismanic beckoning 
which ever lured colonists on in the search for more 
and richer lands, have created most perplexing con- 
ditions for those who now enter upon the study of 
Virginia genealogy of the past three centuries. The 
frontier life bred a love of independence and adven- 



8 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

ture that induced the virile men and women of Vir- 
ginia to cross over the mountains to the West and 
South, in ever increasing numbers, where, for lack of 
reliable means of communication, they gradually lost 
touch with their kinsmen who remained along the 
tide water and in the valleys of Virginia. 

As time passed and some of the colonists acquired 
fortime or became prominent through holding public 
office, their business transactions and official acts 
were carefully noted and their descendants may be 
generally identified, although, in many cases, all 
traces of contemporary kinsmen have been lost. The 
carefully devised English laws concerning the keep- 
ing of records of births, marriages, deaths and busi- 
ness transactions, were necessarily in abeyance 
amongst a people whose immediate call of duty was 
the clearing of forests, building of homes and per- 
petual preparedness to overmaster the cunning and 
stratagem of red men, become resentful at being de- 
spoiled of their hunting grounds. The existence, here 
and there, of a diary or other family record, serves 
only to accentuate the general deficiency of reliable 
data concerning the first half century of settlement. 
The destruction of many British records of that pe- 
riod, relating to the colonies, has caused many inves- 
tigators to indulge in speculations wholly unsatisfac- 
tory to trained genealogists. It is impossible at this 



FOREWOED 9 

time to establish from the fragmentary records the 
date and place of embarkation or even of the landing 
in Virginia of many of the earlier colonists who sub- 
sequently attained prominence, and the relationship, 
if any, of those bearing the same names. 

When I look back at my initial efforts to unravel 
the tangled skein and recall the groping and floun- 
dering, I am amazed that I ever had the courage to 
go forward. I had entered the military service at an 
early age, at the close of the great Civil War in which 
the family, like many others in the border states of 
the Confederacy, had divided and cast its fortunes 
on opposing sides in the fratricidal conflict. The 
knowledge which comes in normal times as traditions 
from the passing generation was lost to me, and 
when I had fully awakened to the fact, nearly all 
those who could have aided in the research had passed 
away. 

It was certain only that my grandfather had, with 
his family, joined the migration of over-mountain 
men from Southern Virginia, in the early years of 
the Nineteenth Century and that, with other kinsmen 
devoted to horse breeding, he had taken up lands in 
the fertile blue grass section of Middle Tennessee. 
His will had been accidentally destroyed before be- 
ing probated, and the family Bible alone remained to 
furnish the solitary clew, the quaint name of my 



10 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

grandmother, " Unity," which served as the beacon 
to light the genealogical pathway in Old Virginia, and 
to differentiate in a family where the same Christian 
names prevail in all the branches to the remotest de- 
gree of kinship. The marriage record, located after 
casting many nets in vain, served to reopen the 
family trail which led literally over mountains and 
through swamps, sometimes dim almost to oblitera- 
tion, but wdiich finally unfolded into a straight high- 
way through the gradual accumulation of well de- 
fined mile posts on the genealogical journey. 

It was a discouraging undertaking, but with each 
link of the chain forged anew, an enthusiasm and a 
charm was discovered such as had never borne me up 
and on in other tasks. Historical facts, hitherto 
passed over in a cursory way, took on new life when 
treated as of the period contemporary with a living, 
virile generation of nry own ancestors. At times the 
unearthing of things essential, by a process of ana- 
lytical reasoning, brought a deep and dignified sense 
of satisfaction, while at others, equally important 
ends came through blind stumbling along some hid- 
den pathway. And when worn and tired with the 
unrest of every day life, a peaceful enjoyment always 
awaited me when I could take up the thread and fit 
some newly arrived link into the slowly growing 
chain. 



FOKEWOED 11 

The habit of wandering into the by-paths of colo- 
nial history steadily grew upon me and things hither- 
to but dimly outlined in the mind became as defi- 
nitely fixed as the contents of a certain ironbound 
chest, the ransacking of which had served so loyally 
to fill in the rainy days of long ago. And when the 
trail had reached back in the past to a point beyond 
which all was dust and ashes, and from which the 
imagery of the veriest castle builder could no longer 
fashion virile men and women of his own clan, there 
came a keen sense of personal loss that the delving 
which had long fascinated me had come to an end. 
But there will remain as the direct result of this pa- 
tient research a deeper sentiment of reverence and 
respect for the nation builders, whether cavalier or 
puritan, who dared the dangers of the sea in the frail 
vessels which for a century or more comprised the 
only fleet available for those who came to establish 
upon America's shores the initial plant which has 
grown to include the greatest agricultural, commer- 
cial and industrial develojnnent known in the ar- 
chives of the world's history. 

While delving in the old records there was constant 
temptation to stray from the strict object of research. 
For instance the record of the Henrico County court 
of August 1st, 1685, was observed to contain this or- 
der for the first ducking stool in the Colony of Vir- 



12 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

ginia : " There being no ducking stool in this County 
as ye law enjoynes, Captain Thomas Cocke is re- 
quested and appointed, between this and October 
Court next, to erect one in some convenient place 
near ye court house and ye it be well and substantially 
done, for ye which he shall be satisfied in ye County 
levy ; to ye which ye said Cocke consents and obliges 
himself to the performance thereof." 

The immigrants to Virginia were not all cavaliers 
nor those of New England all puritans. It has gen- 
erally been supposed, however, that the use of duck- 
ing stools was confined to the stern men of the north- 
ern settlements. If this ducking stool was ever used 
in Henrico County the record of it escaped observa- 
tion. 

In these modern days authors are prone to write of 
the need of uplift and a return to the honest and 
simple life of the colonial forefathers. That this pre- 
sumed superior honesty is more imaginary than real 
is indicated by the oath of office required of one of 
the most powerful of the colonial functionaries, the 
commander or commissioner of a county : 

" Ye shall swear that as commissioner of ye 
County, ye shall doe equal right to ye poor as to ye 
rich, to ye best of ye cunning, wit and power and 
a Iter the precedents and customs of the Province and 
acts of assembly thereof made, and to hold ye sessions 



FOREWORD 13 

or courts as ye are directed in ye commission or ac- 
cording to acts of assembly providing in ye behalf: 
and all fines and amercements as shall happen to be 
made and all forfeitures which shall fall before you, 
ye shall cause to be entered without any concealment 
and certify ye same to his Lordships Receiver of this 
province ; ye shall not barr or hinder ye prosecution 
of justice or take any gift, bribe or fee to ye intent of 
delaying of judgment: but shall behave yourself 
wisely and truly to ye best of your understanding and 
power so long as ye shall persist in this office and 
untill ye shall be by lawfull authority discharged 
therefrom soe help ye God. ' ' 

The search of court records of to-day for data con- 
cerning the eighty millions of Americans would be 
discouraging and unprofitable, but in the early colo- 
nial period they constitute the most reliable source of 
information. Their value in this respect has come to 
be generally recognized. Much has been done for the 
preservation of records but much remains to be done, 
not only of mere copying, but of intelligent analysis 
and connection of historically important entries in 
widely separated records. 

How quaint all the old fragments of colonial rec- 
ords, laboriously penned, seem in the light of the 
modern way ! Schoolmasters were rare in the early 
days, actual money all but unknown and tobacco the 

2 



14 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

only currency of the colony for a hundred and fifty 
years. The vestry of each parish were sworn to abide 
by the doctrines and discipline of the Church as en- 
joined by the statutes of William and Mary, to bear 
true faith and allegiance to his Majesty the King and 
to disavow belief in the transubstantiation in the 
sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and in addition 
were burdened with many duties ordinarily pertain- 
ing to the secular administration of county affairs. 

Amongst the varied and important functions of 
government devolving on the church vestrymen and 
wardens was the appointment every fourth year of 
" processioners " to view all boundary lines of land 
grants and claims, to arbitrate differences and to see 
that the shooting and range laws were complied with. 
There were no eleemosynary institutions in the col- 
ony, and had there been, the lack of transportation 
facilities would have rendered them inutile to the 
widely scattered settlers. It, therefore, devolved 
upon the vestry of each parish to provide for the poor 
and unfortunate, and, to that end, they were empow- 
ered to levy taxes, to bind minors to service, and to 
apportion the destitute amongst the more fortunate 
who were willing to undertake their care for a small 
allowance, usually paid in tobacco. So that while 
there was ofttimes complaint of some counties that 
horse racing, cock fighting and card playing were 



FOREWORD 15 

too prevalent, there is abundant evidence that the 
corner stones and foundations of a people of high 
and abiding moral fibre were not neglected. 

There is a dignity about the old marriage bonds, 
used for more than two centuries after the first settle- 
ment along the James, that appeals with peculiar 
force in these iconoclastic days. These documents 
have quite generally disappeared, but in one of the 
numerous counties where Carters lived and sought 
maids in marriage, the old bonds have all been pre- 
served and thus they run: 

" Know all men by these presents, that I John 
Carter of Brunswick County and James Jones of the 
County of Surrey, are held and firmly bound unto 
our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the grace 
of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, 
Defender of the Faith, etc., in the sum of fifty pounds 
current money of Virginia, to be paid to our said 
Lord the King, his heirs and successors to the pae- 
ment whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors 
and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by 
these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated this 
3rd Jan'y, 1754. 

" The condition of this obligation is such, that 
whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be 
solemnized between the above bound John Carter 
and Rebecca Stuart of the Parish of St. Andrew in 



16 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Brunswick Co. Spinster — Now if there is no lawful 
cause to obstruct said marriage, then this obligation 
to be void, or else to remain in full force and virtue. 

John Carter (Seal). 

James Jones (Seal)." 

Upon the execution of such a bond, with approved 
security, the clerk issued a certificate authorizing any 
one licensed by the county court to perform the 
ceremony. If the marriage was to be celebrated ac- 
cording to the rites of the established Church, the 
words " solemnly intended " were inserted; if any 
other ceremony was to be used then the words ' ' sud- 
denly intended " were substituted. The licenses 
were not returned to the clerk of the court, and ex- 
cept for family Bibles and the private records kept 
by ministers, these bonds constituted the only mar- 
riage registers required by law, until the middle of 
the Nineteenth Century. Many of the clerks trans- 
ferred the essential facts from the bonds to books for 
their own convenience, but fire and the sword, vandal- 
ism and the corruption of time have caused most of 
these to disappear. 




ROBERT CARTER 

BORN HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA 
22 DECEMBER. 1770 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES. 

This memoir concerns Giles Carter of Henrico, 
Virginia, and his descendants, but makes no pretence 
to be a complete record. The research was begun for 
the purpose of tracing by the records the direct an- 
cestors of General William Giles Harding Carter. 
Information concerning collateral branches of the 
family has been noted, and while meager, is not suf- 
ficiently so to discourage one trained to genealogical 
research and with time available for its accomplish- 
ment. 

While the connection between Giles Carter, of Hen- 
rico, born in 1634, and Giles Carter of Gloucester- 
shire, England, who sailed from Bristol September 
25th, 1620 (O. S.), on the Supply, for Berkeley Hun- 
dred, has not yet been established, the results of the 
author's study of the Berkeley Hundred Colony and 
the family connection of those interested in its estab- 
lishment are included in this volume. In tracing back 
the Carter families of Gloucestershire bearing, in 
each generation, the same Christian names as the Vir- 
ginia family which this memoir concerns, it was ob- 
served that they appear to have been of the landed or 



J-l 



18 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

agricultural class from a remote period antedating 
the published histories of their county. With but 
rare exceptions the descendants of Giles Carter of 
Virginia have adhered through more than two and a 
half centuries to the life of planters and stock 
farmers. 

The branch of the Carter family descended from 
Giles and Hannah Carter, under consideration in 
this memoir, has not been prominently identified with 
high public office nor with great industrial or com- 
mercial undertakings. From their recorded wills 
and deeds, it is ascertained that they were land and 
slave holders, living the simple life of planters, en- 
during the hardships which, were ever the lot of 
pioneers and playing their modest part in laying the 
foundations of now prosperous commonwealths. 

Of the numerous daughters of this branch of Car- 
ters and their descendants, involved in three cen- 
turies of a shifting panorama of new states and terri- 
tories in their formative period, there is but little of 
record recognizable to the casual investigator. It is 
only through a long and patient search of family 
Bibles and scattered records, that the history of these 
kinswomen and their widely dispersed descendants 
may be developed. 

There are several families of Carters of Virginia, 
descended mainly from John Carter of Lancaster 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES 19 

County, Giles Carter of Henrico County and Thomas 
Carter of Lancaster County, which may or may not 
have sprung from a common English ancestry. The 
scattered descendants of Virginia Carters assumed 
for a long time that all were descended from Colonel 
John Carter of Corotoman and that he was descended 
from William Carter of Carstown, Hertford, Eng- 
land. It is unfortunate that the published genea- 
logical records relating to the Carters of Virginia 
have heretofore been confined to the family of Robert 
Carter, commonly known as " King " Carter (1663- 
1732), and who was a son of Colonel John Carter and 
Sarah Ludlow, one of his five wives. Robert Carter 
became probably the wealthiest man of all the colo- 
nies. His immediate descendants intermarried with 
many of the most prominent families of the Old Do- 
minion, and while those descendants bearing the 
name of Carter have not been prominent in public 
life during the past century, many of their kinsmen, 
in whose veins flowed the blood of Robert (King) 
Carter, have added laurels to the family escutcheon 
and imperishable pages to the nation's history. 

The relationship, if any, of Colonel John Carter 
with Edward and Thomas Carter, living at the same 
time in Lancaster County, Virginia, has never been 
definitely determined, although it has been surmised 
that John and Edward were brothers. 



20 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

It is not known from just what county of England 
Colonel John Carter emigrated. From the will of 
Edward Carter it appears that he was from Middle- 
sex County, England, in the vicinity of London. 

There is a British record of the marriage of John 
Carter of Stepney, Middlesex, to Jane Cleaves, widow 
of All Hallows, Barking, London, 25th of October, 
1611. As Cleave appeared as a Christian name of the 
Carters in Virginia it may yet be determined to have 
been derived from the marriage mentioned and that 
John, Edward and Cleave were of Middlesex County, 
England. It is certain that the Gloucestershire Car- 
ters had lived in that county for several centuries 
prior to the settlement of Virginia, and the Christian 
names of Giles, William and John have always pre- 
vailed. 

It is quite certain that Colonel John Carter of Co- 
ro torn an was of unvarying Royalist sentiments, and 
it is equally certain that Giles Carter of Henrico 
fraternized with the opposition to Sir William 
Berkeley during his later service as Governor of the 
Colony of Virginia, and which culminated in the so- 
called " Bacon's Rebellion.' 1 King Charles II be- 
came convinced that Governor Berkeley's course had 
been unwise if not absolutely unjust, but the families 
of those in sympathy with Bacon were historically 
without the pale of public office or political prefer- 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES 31 

ment, for a long period, and were amongst the first 
to penetrate the unexplored regions of the Southwest. 

During the early colonial period large families 
were the rule, and, being dependent almost wholly 
upon agriculture, the division of land, with each new 
generation, reduced the probability of success of 
those descendants who remained upon the home plan- 
tations. The result was a constant migration of those 
not heirs to large estates, away from the tide water 
region to the back counties and later to new territo- 
ries and states. In this wav the descendants of Giles 
Carter, during two and a half centuries, have become 
dispersed, from Virginia to Texas. Traditions as to 
their ancestors are generally vague, and were it not 
for the perpetuation, from generation to genera- 
tion, of family names, it would be extremely diffi- 
cult to locate the records necessary to identify many 
families. 

The descendants of Giles Carter and their kins- 
men have continued generally in the South. A not- 
able exception to this occurred in the family of Rich- 
ard Everard Bennett, of " Poplar Mount," Halifax 
County, whose wife was Ann Carter, daughter of 
Theodrick (Third) and Judith Cunningham Carter. 
A son of this marriage, Richard E. Bennett, Jr., 
moved to Illinois, and the senior surviving member 
of this family now (1909) bears the name Theodrick 



22 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Carter Bennett, his mother Maria Carter having been 
a first cousin of his father. Although born in Illinois, 
Theodrick Carter Bennett, being on a visit to his 
Carter kinsmen in Texas at the outbreak of the Civil 
War, joined Terry's Texas Rangers and continued 
in the Confederate Army to the end, when he re- 
turned to Illinois. 

One of the Bennett descendants, Judge Walter 
Bennett Scates, succeeded Judge Lyman Trumbull 
as Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois when 
Trumbull was elected to the United States Senate. 
He served in the Union Army as a lieutenant-colonel 
on the staff of General McClernand. 

Doctor Walter Bennett, the progenitor of this fam- 
ily in Virginia, left a journal of his travels, and for 
his son Richard Everard Bennett, a recipe book in 
which appears a strange commingling of medical pre- 
scriptions for the human kind and animals ; and rec- 
ords of births and deaths of children interspersed 
with entries such as these: 

" North American, a sorrel horse-colt, foaled on 
Tuesday the 17th day of April, 1810 out of Nancy 
Maid, a bay mare purchased of Mr. Baird, Esq., got 
by gray Diomed, his dam by North Britain who was 
imported by John Baird Esq. ' ' 

To accurately and definitely trace a line of family 
descent court records are the most valuable because 



IDENTIFICATION" OF FAMILIES 23 

usually made under oath and presumably accurate. 
Family Bibles appear to be next in accuracy, as to 
births in Virginia families, because the entries in 
church parish records show indubitably that the data 
concerning their scattered parishioners was collected 
by the ministers from time to time and not as records 
of each individual birth. Frequently all the children 
of a family are found as successive entries in parish 
registers, although the series of births may have cov- 
ered many years. Marriage and death records are 
apt to be accurate, because usually entered at the time 
of the events. 

The perpetuation of Christian names serves to 
greatly facilitate the identification of families in all 
records and contemporary history. In the several 
families of Carters of Virginia, certain Christian 
names peculiar to each family occur in each genera- 
tion, while other names, such as John and Robert, are 
quite common in all the families even where no rela- 
tionship exists. Giles and Theodrick have not been 
found in any other branch of the Carter family, al- 
though one or both have appeared in each generation 
of the branch which this memoir concerns, from 
Giles, the immigrant, down to the present generation. 
During one generation, 1775 to 1800, there were no 
less than seven members of this family bearing the 
name of Theodrick Carter. Giles or Gyles Carter 



24 GILES CARTES OE VTTJOTOTA 

has been found continuously, bark to the most ancient 
records of Gloucestershire, England, and has not 
been identified with any of the other Carter families 
in England. 

While perpetuation of Christian names serves to 
identify families, it also leads at times to serious em- 
barassment, from the viewpoint of the genealogist, 
unless contemporary records are available to unravel 
the multiplication of identical names. As an instance 
of this, Theodrick Carter (First), a son of Giles Car- 
ter, had two sons named Theodrick (Second) and 
John. Theodrick Carter (Second) named his first 
three sons John, Theodrick and William. His broth- 
er John named his first three sons Theodrick, John 
and William. Each of these two brothers honored 
the other by naming his first son after the brother, 
the second being given his own father's name and the 
third in each case being named William. The wills 
of Theodrick (Second) and John served to unravel 
this confusion of names. 

Certain parish, colonial and county records aid in 
identification of individuals. The date of death of 
Giles Carter (Second) is not known. The last record 
concerning him in the locality where he was born and 
lived is found in the following record of a vestry 
meeting held at Curl's Church, for Henrico Parish, 
the sixth day of December, Ano. 1735 : 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES 25 

" Pursuant to an act of Assembly of this colony, 
and in obedience to the order of Henrico County 
Court, made at a court held for ye said county, this 
first day of December, Ano. 1735 : The vestry do or- 
der that John Cocke, Gerrard Ellyson and Giles Car- 
ter, with the assistance of the neighboring freehold- 
ers, do sometime before the last day of March next 
coming, goe in procession and renew the lines of all 
lands from Boar Swamp on Chickahominy Swamp, 
to the lower bounds of ye parish, thence southerly to 
the place where the Long Bridge road parts with Bot- 
tom Bridge road, and that the said John Cocke, Ger- 
rard Ellyson and Giles Carter (or any two of them), 
do take and return to their parish vestry, an account 
of every person's lands by them processioned, and 
the persons present at the same, and of all land in 
their precinct they shall fail to procession, and the 
particular reasons for such failure." 

An act of the general assembly of Virginia was 
passed in October, 1786, for clearing and extending 
the navigation of the Chickahominy River, and Wil- 
liam Carter, a descendant of Giles Carter (First), 
was one of a committee of trustees appointed to 
supervise the clearing of the channel as far up as 
Meadow Bridge. 

An act of the general assembly was passed Decem- 
ber 21, 1795, under which Everard Meade, Joseph 



26 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Eggleston, Ryland Randolph, Edmund Harrison, 
Richard Venable, John Epperson, Francis Eppes, 
Henry Skipwith, Buller Claibourne, Samuel Carter, 
James Wade and other gentlemen were appointed 
' trustees for clearing, improving and extending the 
navigation of the Appomatox River from Banister's 
Mills as far up the same as they may judge it prac- 
ticable, so as to have a sufficient depth and width of 
water to navigate boats, batteaus or canoes capable 
of carrying eight hogsheads of tobacco." Samuel 
Carter who was named as one of the trustees was a 
son of Theodrick (Second) and Anne Carter. Sam- 
uel's brother Waddill married Mildred, a daughter 
of James Wade, who was also named as one of the 
trustees. 

At the Halifax County, Virginia, court, held in 
November, 1799, the following was ordered and made 
of record : 

" Theodrick Carter, Gentleman, is recommended 
to his Excellency, the Governor or Chief Magistrate, 
for the time being, as a fit person to execute the office 
of Sheriff of this County for the ensuing year." 

He filled the office for two successive terms. His 
identification aided materially in clearing up a 
tangled procession of Theodricks in that generation. 

The last but one in the branch of the family herein 
traced, to bear the name of Theodrick, and who was 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES 27 

Theodrick (Sixth) in direct line, entered the Confed- 
erate service from Tennessee at twenty-one years of 
age and accompanied General Zollicofer to Ken- 
tucky. Subsequent to the death of his chief at the 
battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, he served as cap- 
tain and A. D. C. upon the staff and accompanied 
Hood's army on its march north for Nashville in 
1864. The battle of Franklin was peculiarly fatal to 
the Confederate Army in its loss of officers and none 
was more tragic than that of young Theodrick Car- 
ter, thus described by General J. D. Cox, U. S. Vol- 
unteers, in his history of the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville : 

' ' But even civil war rarely furnishes so sad a story 
as that which the Carter family have to tell. The 
house was occupied by an elderly man and his two 

daughters The battle, when it came, broke 

upon them so suddenly that they did not dare to leave, 
and they took refuge in the cellar. The house was in 
the focus of the storm which raged about it for hours. 
.... The long night ended at last, and with the first 
light the young women found relief in ministering 
to the wounded who had crept into the house and out- 
buildings, and in carrying water to those on the field. 
But, as they climbed the parapet at the rear of the 
house, among the first they found was a young staff 
officer, their own brother, mortally wounded, lying, 



28 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

as he had fallen at sunset, almost at the door of his 
home. ' ' * 

The name of Waddill appeared in the fourth gen- 
eration of the Carter family in Virginia, as a Chris- 
tian name. It is believed to have been introduced 
through the marriage of Theodrick Carter (Second) 
with Anne Waddill. A daughter of this marriage 
was named Anne Waddill and a son named Waddill. 
John Carter, a son of Theodrick (Second) and Anne, 
named his first daughter Anne Waddill. The Wad- 
dills lived in St. Peter's Parish for many years, as 
shown by the register and other parish records. Wil- 
liam Waddill, Sr., was a vestryman and also church 
warden of St. Peter's Parish. His name was spelled 
Waddell in all the records until the meeting of 
August 18th, 1704, after which it was always spelled 
Waddill until it disappears from the vestry proceed- 
ings, the last entry being at the meeting of October 
8th, 1737. William Waddill, son of William Waddill, 
was baptized April 29th, 1694. William Waddill was 
a witness to the w T ill of John Carter's father, Theod- 
rick Carter (Second). One of the witnesses to the 
will of John Carter of Halifax was Noel Waddill. 

* The mortality amongst the Confederate generals at Franklin in- 
cluded General John C. Carter, and was unparalleled in any other battle 
of the war. It is said to have resulted from an impatient remark of 
General Hood, over the failure to crush the Federal Army before reach- 
ing Franklin, which caused the generals and other officers to recklessly 
expose themselves in the battle which followed. 



IDENTIFICATION OP FAMILIES 29 

Other Christian names are traced less directly. 
The old Henrico records show " Mr. Robert Wood- 
son, Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter, William 
Ferris and Roger Comins," as partners in a land 
grant. 

At the date of taking the census of 1625, John 
Woodson, who came over in " The George " in 1619, 
and his wife Sarah, lived at Flower de Hundred, on 
the south side of the James. A son Robert married 
Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Ferris, and had issue : 
John, Robert, Richard, Joseph, Benjamin and Eliza- 
beth, who married John Pleasants. A son of Rich- 
ard, also named Richard, married Anne Michaux. 
Anne Michaux Woodson had two daughters; one, 
Elizabeth, married Nathaniel Venable and the other, 
Agnes, married Francis Watkins, Clerk of Prince 
Edward County. 

Nathaniel Venable and Francis Watkins were ex- 
ecutors of and Agnes Watkins a witness to the will of 
Theodrick Carter (Second) which was probated Jan- 
uary 19th, 1777. The second Theodrick 's son, John 
Carter, named one son Francis Watkins, one Richard 
and one Robert. Robert Carter named one son Rob- 
ert Michaux and a daughter Sarah Venable. The 
second Theodrick Carter's son, Theodrick (Third), 
named a son Nathaniel. 

3 



30 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Abraham Venable, who married Elizabeth Mi- 
chaux, daughter of Jacob Michaux, was a witness to 
the will of Waddill Carter, son of Theodrick Carter 
(Second). Martha Venable, a sister of Abraham, 
married John Holcomb of Prince Edward County, 
Virginia. Samuel Venable, son of Abraham and 
Elizabeth Michaux Venable, married Aim Anderson, 
daughter of Thomas Anderson of Mecklenburg 
County, Virginia. Francis Watkins Carter married 
Sarah Holcomb Anderson. 

Samuel was given as a Christian name by Theod- 
rick Carter (Second) to one of his sons and has been 
perpetuated to the present generation. 

It appears from the English and Virginia records 
that Giles, John and William have come as Christian 
names through, many generations of Carters in Glou- 
cestershire, England; that Theodrick has been a 
favorite name since about 1650, in Virginia, and that 
Richard, Robert, Waddill, Samuel, Nathaniel and 
Francis have come through association with the 
Michaux, Waddills, Venables and Watkins in 
Virginia. 

In examining the old records the writer was par- 
ticularly interested to find that in Gloucestershire, 
England, one of the daughters of Giles Carter had 
married William Harding in the Sixteenth Century; 
thai contemporaries bearing the names of Giles Car- 



IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES 31 

ter and William Harding were in Henrico County, 
Virginia, with the Gloucestershire settlers in the 
early part of the Eighteenth Century, and that in the 
Twentieth Century the writer should bear the name 
of William Giles Harding Carter. 



DIRECT LINE OP DESCENT. 

The plan followed in developing the line of descent 
has been to trace back, generation by generation, to 
Giles Carter, who was born in 1634. Having followed 
out the immediate line to its source in America, the 
course was then reversed, and beginning with Giles 
Carter, the line of descent was proved and informa- 
tion of record concerning collateral branches was 
noted and analyzed. 

In the pursuit of the information necessary to 
work out the completed chain, and to accomplish the 
identification of individuals and families, it was 
sometimes necessary to draw deductions from scanty 
and widely dispersed details. By a process of elimi- 
nation and comparison the direct line was finally 
established and this has been followed by persistent 
examination of records and contemporary biograph- 
ical and historical writings. 

The first Giles Carter of whom there is any record 
in Virginia came from Gloucestershire, England, 
with William Tracy on the Supply, which sailed from 
Bristol September 24th, 1620 (O. S.), and arrived at 
Berkeley January 29th, 1621 (O. S.). After looking 



DIEECT LINE OF DESCENT 33 

over the situation Giles Carter returned to England 
immediately before or just after the Indian massacre 
of Friday, April 1st, 1622. The Carter family of 
Gloucestershire, England, in which Gyles or Giles 
appears as a Christian name, was connected with the 
Tracy family by the marriage of Giles Carter and 
Elizabeth Tracy. This Giles was a son of John Car- 
ter of Lower Swell, who was High Sheriff of Glouces- 
tershire in 1612. The family and its connections are 
considered in a separate chapter, for the reason that 
in the fragmentary state of the published records of 
that early period, it has not yet been practicable to 
identify the parents of Giles Carter who was born in 
1634, who lived at Turkey Island during Bacon's Re- 
bellion, and whose will is preserved in Henrico 
County, Virginia. From the incomplete records of 
the first half century of colonization in Virginia, it 
is difficult to find continuous and accurate data of 
even those who bore the most prominent part in colo- 
nial affairs. 

Beginning with Giles Carter of Henrico County, 
Virginia, whose descendants are traced in this 
memoir, the recorded wills have been preserved and 
the direct line of descent is traced by means of these 
wills and other county records and family Bibles. 

The records of Henrico County, Virginia, estab- 
lish, in a deposition, that Giles Carter was born in 



34 GILES CAETEB OF VIEGINIA 

1634. At the period of Bacon's Rebellion lie was the 
intimate friend of Colonel James Crewe of Turkey 
Island, Henrico County, one of Bacon's active and 
prominent adherents. For his participation in Ba- 
con's Rebellion Colonel James Crewe was tried by 
court-martial and sentenced to be hanged. 

The record of the proceedings of the court-martial 
which tried Colonel James Crewe has been preserved 
as follows : 

" At a Court-martial held at Green Spring the 
24th day of January 1676-7. 

" Present Sir William Berkeley, Knt. Governor 
and Captain General of Virginia. 
Colonel Bacon Colonel Ludwell ( 'olonel Ramsey 
Colonel Ballard Colonel Claiborne Major Page. 
Colonel West Colonel Hill 

' James Crewes being brought before the Court 
for treason and rebellion against his most sacred 
majestie, and pleading nothing in his defence, and 
the court being very sensible that the said Crewes was 
a most notorious actor, aydor and assistor in the re- 
bellion therefore the court are unanimously of opin- 
ion, and doc adjudge him guilty of the accusation: 
Sentence of death, therefore past upon him to re- 
turne to the prison from which he came, and from 
thence fmi KYiday next) to be carryed to the gal- 
lowes, there to be hanged until he be dead." 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 35 

It is not known in detail jnst what part Colonel 
Crewe took in Bacon's Rebellion, but when the Vir- 
ginia Assembly passed an act granting pardon to 
those who had participated in it, he and about fifty 
others were excluded. 

Subsequent to his execution a bill of attainder was 
passed, which contained this final proviso : 

" Provided always, and it is the true intent and 
meaning of the act, that the severall estates of the 
severall persons herein mentioned to be convicted 
and stand attainted of high treason, shall only be in- 
ventoried and security taken that the same shall not 
be embezzled, and upon such security, the said estates 
nor any parte thereof shall not be removed, but shall 
remaine and be in the hands of the person or persons 
now possessing the same untill the King's majesties 
further pleasure shall be signified therein." 

The act of attainder was repealed by proclamation 
July 8th, 1680. 

Sir William Berkeley, in his report of those exe- 
cuted, says: " Condemned at my house (Green 
Spring) and executed when Bacon lay before James- 
town: 

" 1. Colonel Crewe, Bacon's parasyte, that con- 
tinually went about ye country, extolling all Bacon's 
actions, and justifying his rebellion." 

The exclusion of Crewe from amnesty after he had 



36 GILES CAETER OF VIRGINIA 

been executed was of little moment except to his 
heirs. The wise provisions of the bill of attainder 
are now believed to have been inserted to secure es- 
tates to rightful heirs and to prevent Governor 
Berkeley from personalty confiscating them. Viewed 
in the light of documents since made public, Colonel 
Crewe was a patriotic, self-respecting gentleman. He 
was officiallv slain bv the verdict of a court-martial 
assembled to do the bidding of an irascible and vin- 
dictive governor, who appeared willing to sacrifice 
the lives and property of the English planters that 
his own interests in the Indian trade might continue 
undisturbed. Many descendants of members of the 
court were to be found among the colonists who con- 
tended on the field of battle, one hundred years later, 
for the principles laid down by Bacon and Crewe in 
1676.* 

The career of Colonel James Crewe is of particular 
interest because of the provisions of his will relating 

* Early in his investigations the author became imbued with the 
opinion that Bacon's adherents had been misrepresented from the very 
inception of trouble with the Indians, and had been treated with marked 
disfavor and injustice by Sir William Berkeley, producing a dissatis- 
faction which remained as an open wound in the body politic long after 
Berkeley had been deposed from the office of governor. After a study 
of all available documents relating to that period the author's opinion 
became a conviction, and he prepared a monograph on Bacon's Rebel- 
lion, and, upon its completion, learned that Eggleston had already pub- 
lished " Bacon the Patriot," based upon a similar study. 



DIEECT LINE OF DESCENT 37 

to Giles Carter and his family. The will of James 
Crewe was executed the 23d of July, 1676, and proved 
before the Henrico County court the 10th of Decem- 
ber, 1677. The name is spelled Crews by the clerk of 
the court, except the record of the signature which is 
Crewes. The spelling used by Governor Berkeley — 
Crewe — conforms to that in the Gloucestershire rec- 
ords of this family. He appears to have been ' ' Cap- 
tain " Crewe from the recorded will, but was desig- 
nated as " Colonel " bv Governor Berkelev. 

Colonel James Crewe appointed his cousin Mathew 
Crewe of England sole executor. There is an entry 
in the Henrico County records stating that adminis- 
tration on the estate was granted to Mr. William 
Sherwood, attorney for Rowland Place Esquire, who 
was attorney for Mathew Crewe gent., son of Francis 
Crewe, deceased, brother of Colonel James Crewe; 
and to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Grendon, attor- 
ney for Sarah Whittingham, sole daughter of Ed- 
ward Crewe, brother to Colonel James Crewe, the 
heirs living in England. 

The estate of James Crewe, known as Turkey Is- 
land, was on the James River between Shirley and 
Bremo, the latter the residence of the Cocke familv 
for two hundred years. Turkey Island received its 
name from the large number of wild turkeys found 
there by the first party sent up the river from the 



38 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

colony at Jamestown. The estate was sold bv James 

* 

Crewe's heirs in 1684 to William Randolph. 

By an indenture made the 25th of February, 

* 7 

1684-5, Giles Carter, "planter," and his wife Hannah 
transferred their rights in a parcel of land pertain- 
ing to the Turkey Island plantation of Colonel James 
Crewe, to William Randolph. By his will Colonel 
Crewe had transferred the land to Giles Carter dur- 
ing his lifetime for " one grain of Indian corn/' The 
estate of Colonel James Crewe was settled by the 
court held June 1st, 1686, the various legacies to 
Giles Carter's family being then approved and paid. 

It is not known just when Colonel Crewe arrived 
in Virginia. The records show that he was a witness 
to a receipt given by Thomas Hallam April 14th, 
1656, and recognized in court June 25th, 1656. 

It has not been determined just when Giles Carter, 
who was associated with Colonel James Crewe, ar- 
rived in Virginia. There is a deposition recorded in 
Henrico County, Virginia, which states, on behalf of 
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Grendon, that he loaned 
a rapier to Colonel James Crewe " once when he was 
going to England/ ' The date of this visit can not be 
determined, but it seems probable from subsequent 
incidents and records that Giles Carter and his fam- 
ily returned with Crewe and were still at his planta- 



DIEECT LINE OP DESCENT 39 

tion when the Indian troubles preceding Bacon's Re- 
bellion began. 

Giles Carter received grants of land for the ex- 
pense of bringing a number of immigrants to Vir- 
ginia, but their names, as shown in the court records 
and grants, are not found in any of the published 
lists of persons sailing from ports of England, the 
records of which are intact. This fact strengthens 
the evidence that Giles Carter and the group affili- 
ated with him at the time of Bacon's Rebellion and 
afterwards, were from Gloucestershire and sailed 
from Bristol as did the first Giles Carter who came 
on the Supply. The only records of sailings from 
Bristol preserved are those of the Margaret and the 
Supply, found with the private papers of John 
Smyth of Nibley. Both ships were chartered for 
the Berkeley Hundred Colony. 

The will of Colonel James Crewe contained, 
amongst other provisions, the following: " I give 
unto Hannah, wife of Giles Carter, my negro maid 
Kate forever and her increase," and in event of the 
death of Hannah Carter, the woman Kate was to be- 
come the property of Theodriek, son of Giles and 
Hannah Carter. Mary and Susan, daughters of Giles 
and Hannah Carter, each received under the will 
" ten thousand pounds of tobacco," and minor lega- 
cies. Many of the old wills make provision for 



40 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

mourning rings and other small gifts for personal 
friends. Such generosity as Colonel Crewe bestowed 
upon (Hies and Hannah Carter and their children 
was generally reserved for kinsmen. 

There are many entries in the old records of Vir- 
ginia concerning Giles Carter and his descendants, 
extracts of which are included to show their early 
land holdings and family connections. 

In the records of Henrico County, Virginia, is a 
list of tythables, in 1679, residing in the old settle- 
ments of Bermuda Hundred, Curls and Turkey Is- 
land. At the last named place the list includes: 

Richard Cocke 5 

William Randolph 5 

Giles Carter 6 

Thomas Cocke 8 

William Cocke 2 

The record recites : 

" An account of the several forty tythables, or- 
dered by this worshipful court to fitt out man and 
horse and arms, etc., according to act." 

The act referred to required that a man a nd horse 
should be provided for service in the militia by each 
forty tythables. The numbers opposite each name 
indicated the numbers of persons for whose poll tax 
each was responsible. 

Giles Carter was appointed by the court August 
15th, 1681, as one of the persons to appraise an estate. 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 41 

William Cocke, of Henrico County, recorded a 
deed of a parcel of land sold February 28th, 1684, to 
Giles Carter, " said land lying upon Turkey Island 
Mill Run and beginning at the upper beaver dam on 
said River." 

Giles Carter was appointed by the court, February 
1st, 1685, as an appraiser of the estate of John Cly- 
burn, deceased. 

The records of the court held at Varina for Hen- 
rico Comity, Virginia, June 1st, 1687, contain the fol- 
lowing : 

11 Upon the petition of Giles Carter, certificate is 
granted unto him for eight hundred (800) acres of 
land due for ye importacion of these sixteen (16) 
persons under written, being legally proved in court ; 
viz: 

Jonathan Cocke Cornelius Orts William Wheeler 
Philip Marshall John Green Nicholas Lund 
Mary Allen Mary Richards John Bengany 

John Holmes Moses Martin Thomas Smeethers 
Elianor Bushell Jno. Cocks Rachel Lockerson. ' : 

Katherine Price 

An order of the same court appointed Giles Carter 
as an appraiser of and to divide the estate of Will 
Humphrey, deceased. 

Amongst the recorded land patents in Virginia is 
a grant, dated October 21st, 1687, for 1875 acres in 



42 GILES CARTER OF VIEG IMA 

the Parish of Varina, at the White Oak Swamp, on 
the north side of the James, to " Mr. Robert Wood- 
son, Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter, William 
Ferris and Roger Comins.'' This patent was issued 
in October, 1688, and signed by Francis Lord How- 
ard, Baron of Effingham. Roger Comins having 
died and William Ferris having failed to pay any 
part of the charges accruing, the land was divided 
among the three remaining, Giles Carter's share be- 
ing 552 acres lying along the main run of White Oak 
Swamp. This land was granted for having brought 
emigrants to the colony, among them being John 
Strong, Jno. Hickson, Geo. Swallow, Moses Reese, 
Jno. Worthy, Antho. Gant, Wm. Norris, Dan '11 
Waller, Tho. Adcock, Tho. Clark, Ed Davehill and 
others, thirty-six in all. By his will, one hundred 
years after the granting of this patent, John Carter, 
a grandson of Giles, gave a piece of land described as 
at the White Oak Swamp to his son and namesake 
John Carter, Jr. 

The will of Giles Carter, father of Theodrick Car- 
ter (First) and of Giles Carter (Second), was exe- 
cuted the 14th day of December, 1699, and is recorded 
in Henrico County. The witnesses who proved the 
will were Thomas Smythes, William T. Sewell and 
J .lines I). Davis. The will name! his wife Hannah; 
sou Theodrick; daughter Susanna, wife of Thomas 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 43 

Williamson ; daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Davis ; 
daughter Ann, wife of James Davis; son Giles, 
Jr., who was under eighteen years of age when 
the will was executed. The will was probated Febru- 
ary 2d, 1701-2, Hannah Carter being, under its pro- 
visions, sole executrix. After devising a few minor 
legacies including a ' ' phillie ' ' or young mare to his 
namesake, Giles, Jr., he directed that upon the lad's 
arriving at eighteen years of age he should divide the 
estate with his mother, but that she should not be dis- 
turbed in her possession of the plantation during her 
lifetime.* 

A deed was recorded at the court held at Varina 
December 10th, 1701, for 550 acres of land sold by 

* John Rolfe, when in England with Pocahontas, wrote a letter to 
King James concerning the plantations in Virginia which contains the 
following: 

" At Henrico, on the north side of the river, ninety odd myles from 
the mouth thereof, and within fifteen or sixteen miles of the Falls or 
head of that river (being our furthest habitation within the land) are 
thirty-eight men and boyes, whereof twenty-two are farmers, the rest 
officers and others all whom maintayne themselves with food and 
apparell. Of this towne one Captain Smaley hath the command in the 
absence of Captain James Davis." 

The abstract of Virginia land patents shows: 

" Thomas Davis planter, son and heir of James Davis, late of Hen- 
rico in Virginia, gentleman, deceased, 300 acres in Warwicksqueake 
on Warwicksqueake Creek; due 100 acres in right of the said James 
Davis, his father, an ancient planter, for the transportation of two 
servants into the country, (viz) George Cooke and Alice Mulleins, who 
came in the George in 1617; 100 acres in right of Rachel Davis for her 
personal dividend, an ancient planter. Granted by Harvey 6 March, 
1633." 



44 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

John Cocke, of Oldman's Creek, Charles City 
County, to Thomas Williamson, husband of Susanna, 
daughter of Giles and Hannah Carter. The land was 
described as a parcel sold by Giles Carter, Sr., to 
Cocke. 

The will of Giles Carter names two sons, Theodrick 
Carter (First) and Giles Carter, Junior. The rec- 
ords of Henrico County, Virginia, show that Theod- 
rick Carter (First) transferred March 2d, 1701, to 
John Pleasants certain land called the Low Grounds 
lying on the north side of James River " on Run of 
Turkey Island Creek," for ten thousand pounds of 
tobacco. This land was devised to Theodrick Carter 
(First) by the will of his father Giles Carter. Theod- 
rick Carter (First) bought from John Pleasants, at 
the same time, the property known as " Round 
Hills," on the south side of the Chicahominy Swamp. 
This Round Hills land serves later to identify John, 
the son of Theodrick Carter (First), to whom it was 
willed.* 

The will of Theodrick Carter (First), son of Giles 
Carter and his wife Hannah, was executed the 22d 
day of July, 1736, and probated at a court held at 

* John Pleasants was elected to the House of Burgesses 1692-3, and 
upon refusing to take the oath, Captain William Randolph was elected 
in his stead. When Colonel William Randolph's will was presented for 
probate November 16th, 1742, the witnesses proving the document were 
William Mayo, John Scruggs and Theodrick Carter. 



DIEECT LINE OF DESCENT 45 

Varina, the first Monday in April, 1737, being re- 
corded in Henrico County. The witnesses to the will 
were Thomas Watkins, John Spear and Will W. 
Loatham. The will names his wife Elizabeth, who 
was made executrix of the estate and survived her 
husband about ten years; son Theodrick (Second), to 
whom was devised a small plantation of two hundred 
and eighteen acres ; son John, to whom was willed the 
land on Round Hill branch and Chicahominy Swamp 
bought from John Pleasants; daughter Mary. Un- 
der the will a few slaves and the usual feather beds, 
rugs and other articles considered necessary in colo- 
nial households were distributed. His son John re- 
ceived his gun and " great chest." 

The St. Peter's Parish register records the birth 
of another daughter a few weeks after the execution 
of the will, and before it was probated, as follows : 
" Elizabeth, daughter of Theodrick and Elizabeth 
Carter, born August 22d, baptized September 26th, 
1736." 

The will of Elizabeth Carter, widow of Theodrick 
Carter (First), was executed July 8th, 1747, and pro- 
bated before the Henrico court held the first Monday 
in December, 1751. The witnesses to the will were 
Hannah H. Morgan, Theodrick Carter (Second) and 
Mark Clarke. By a comparison with that of her hus- 
band, Elizabeth 's will shows in addition the names of 



46 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

the daughters, including Mary, who was probably not 
married when her father's will was prepared. To 
her oldest son Theodrick (Second) was willed the 
Great Bible and certain live stock. It is barely pos- 
sible this Bible is still in existence, but no trace of it 
has yet been discovered. A considerable amount of 
live stock was given to each of her children, including 
a horse in nearly every instance, and the remaining 
estate was then devised to her son John Carter, who 
was appointed sole executor. The daughters' names 
were Anne, Susannah, Martha, Mary, and Elizabeth. 
A legacy, a mare foal or filly, was left by Elizabeth 
Carter to her " grandson Cuthburd Webb," but 
whether Webb was part of his Christian name is not 
known. A family named Webb owned the plantation 
adjoining that of Theodrick Carter (First). 

As the two brothers, Theodrick (Second) and 
John, duplicated the names of their sons to such an 
extent as to cause confusion, John and his descend- 
ants will not be considered until after the direct line 
of descent has been carried through to the present 
generation represented by General William H. Car- 
ter, and this plan is followed with reference to all 
collateral branches concerning which any informa- 
tion has been secured. A constant procession of 
Theodrick Carters occurred in the generation now to 
be considered, there being no less than seven so far 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 47 

traced, with the records of several families yet undis- 
covered. Under these circumstances those bearing 
the name in the direct line to General William H. 
Carter have been designated Theodrick (First), 
Theodrick (Second), Theodrick (Third), and 
Theodrick (Fourth). 

The will of Theodrick Carter (Second), son of 
Theodrick (First) and Elizabeth Carter, was exe- 
cuted the 7th day of December, 1777, and was pro- 
bated before the court held for Prince Edward 
County January 19th, 1778. The witnesses to the 
will were Agnes Watkins, William Waddill and 
Elizabeth Clarke. The executors named were his son 
Waddill Carter and his friends Nathaniel Venable 
(a member of the Virginia Assembly 1766-68) and 
Francis Watkins, who was Clerk of Prince Edward 
County at that time. The will names his wife Anne ; 

daughter Susannah, wife of Stubblefield ; son 

John; son Theodrick (Third); son William; son 

Richard; daughter Anne Waddill, wife of 

Thompson ; son Waddill ; daughter Molley ; daughter 
Salley, and son Samuel. 

The will devised some of the lands to Waddill 
Carter and the balance, including the home planta- 
tion, to Samuel Carter. Susannah Stubblefield and 
three of the sons, John, Theodrick and William Car- 
ter, received each a nominal legacy, the slaves and 



48 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

other property being distributed amongst the other 
sons and daughters. The legacies of the unmarried 
daughters are of special interest as, in addition to two 
slaves and the usual live stock, feather bed and furni- 
ture to each, they were given Horses, Saddles and 
Bridles, which, more than a century later, was unwit- 
tingly adopted as the title of a book of which the 
writer is the author and which is the standard text- 
book for instruction in those subjects at West Point 
and in the regular army. 

Although the marriage record has not been found, 
corroborative evidence exists to make it quite certain 
that the wife of Theodrick Carter (Second) was 
Anne Waddill, who, according to St. Peter's Parish 
register, was baptized January 24th, 1713. The St. 
Peter's Parish register also shows that John Carter, 
son of Theodrick (Second) and Anne Carter, was 
born August 26th and baptized October 30th, 1737. 

There is a record, at Houston, the county seat of 
Halifax Comity, of the sale of a tract of 183VL> acres 
of land on Dan River, by Theodrick Carter (Second) 
of Prince Edward County, to his son John Carter of 
Halifax County, Virginia. 

The will of John Carter, son of Theodrick Carter 
( Second) and his wife Anne, was executed June 18th, 
1781, and probated before the court held for Halifax 
County, Virginia, September 20th, 1781. The wit- 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 49 

nesses to his will were Benjamin Hobson, David 
Bates, Noel Waddill, Theodrick Carter (Third), and 
Charles Carter, a son of Theodrick (Third). The ex- 
ecutors named were his wife Mary Carter, Captain 
James Turner, William Boyd and John Carter's 
brothers Richard and Theodrick Carter (Third). 
The will named his wife Mary; daughters Anne 
Waddill, Elizabeth, Mary, Judith, Salley; sons 
Richard, Theodrick (Fourth), Robert, James and 
Francis. 

The appearance on the will of John Carter's broth- 
ers Richard and Theodrick (Third) as executors 
serves, with other evidence, to definitely fix the rela- 
tionship of father and son between Theodrick Carter 
(Second) and John Carter of Halifax County and to 
differentiate that John Carter from a considerable 
number in Virginia bearing the same name. 

The will devised to his eldest daughter Anne Wad- 
dill, who had married a Waddill, a nominal legacy. 
To the unmarried daughters were bequeathed slaves 
and the usual feather beds and furniture, only one 
daughter, Salley, receiving her share in gold. The 
three oldest sons, Richard, Theodrick (Fourth) and 
Robert, all minors when the will was executed, re- 
ceived jointly a plantation containing four hundred 
and fifty acres ; James received the home plantation, 
his mother to have it, with the slaves necessary to run 



50 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

it ' ' during her widowhood. ' : Francis, the youngest, 
received two hundred and ninety acres and provision 
was made that in case either James or Francis died 
before coming of age the deceased brother's share 
should go to the other, and upon the youngest becom- 
ing of age all the slaves then on the home plantation, 
except those given to the daughters, should be divided. 

As previously stated, the will of John Carter, of 
Halifax County, amongst other provisions, devised 
to his three sons, Richard, Robert and Theodrick, 
four hundred and fifty acres of land purchased from 
George Ridley. The records of Halifax County, Vir- 
ginia, show that Robert Carter sold his share of the 
land to George Marable. 

The court records of Halifax County show that 
Robert Carter was married to Unity Cook, by Wil- 
liam P. Martin, November 1st, 1792. 

The last business transaction recorded by Robert 
Carter, in Halifax County, Virginia, prior to his re- 
moval to Tennessee, was the sale of two negroes to 
William Ferrell on June 19th, 1801. This closes the 
record, in direct line, of the branch of the family 
herein traced, in Virginia, as Robert Carter moved 
with his family to Tennessee about 1805, there being, 
at that time, six children, Sarah Venable, Henry 
Cook, John Blackgrove, Robert Michaux, Polly and 
Samuel Jefferson Carter, all of whom, according to 




SAMUEL JEFFERSON CARTER 

BORN HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA 

3 JANUARY, 1803 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 51 

the family Bible, were born in Halifax County, Vir- 
ginia. Another son, Alexander Cunningham Carter, 
was born in Tennessee. Two other children, Mary 
and Nancy, did not survive infancy. 

There was a considerable migration of Virginians 
to the new lands to the west and south, and besides 
Robert Carter and his family, his brothers Richard, 
James and Francis Watkins Carter, their sister Anne 
Waddill and Robert's brother-in-law, Henry Cook, 
left Halifax County with their families and went to 
seek homes in Tennessee and to the south. Robert 
and Francis Carter and Henry Cook settled at 
Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee. Richard 
and James Carter and their sister Anne Waddill 
went to Alabama, as did their kinsmen John and 
Michaux Cunningham. 

Robert Carter continued to reside at Franklin, 
Tennessee, until his death, September 9th, 1839, in 
his 69th year. His will was burned while in the pos- 
session of one of his grandchildren, at Nashville, Ten- 
nessee. A list of personal property, in his possession 
at his death, is recorded at Franklin, Williamson 
County, Tennessee. 

Samuel Jefferson Carter, son of Robert and Unity 
Cook Carter, was born in Halifax County, Virginia, 
January 3d, 1803, and died suddenly at Carter's 
Landing, West Tennessee, March 31st, 1873, leaving 



52 GILES CAETEK OF VIRGINIA 

no will. He married, as shown by the family Bible, 
first Eliza Staggs, and had three children: Watson 
M., Jordan B., and Eliza S. Samuel Jefferson Car- 
ter married second Anne Vaulx, and had fourteen 
children: Warren, Hays, Watkins Leigh, Charles 
Vaulx, Samuel J., Laura O., Irene M., Samuel Jeffer- 
son, William Giles Harding, Anne Catharine, Frank 
Cook, Ella Watson, Vaulx, Mary Hays. 

Samuel Jefferson Carter resided with his family in 
Davidson County, near Nashville, Tennessee, prior to 
1861, and in Nashville during the Civil War. At the 
time of his death he was residing on his farm in West 
Tennessee, near Carter's Landing, on the Mississippi 
River. 

William Giles Harding Carter, son of Samuel Jef- 
ferson and Anne Vaulx Carter, at present the oldest 
living representative, in the direct line, bearing the 
name of Carter, was born near Nashville, Tennessee, 
November 19th, 1851. 

William Giles Harding Carter was married, Octo- 
ber 27th, 1880, at San Francisco, California, to Ida 
Dawley. Two sons have been born of this marriage, 
William Vaulx Carter (who was graduated from 
West Point in 1904 and appointed a lieutenant in the 
Sixth United States Cavalry, his father's old regi- 
ment), and Leigh Hays Carter, who, while a student 
at the University of Illinois, was accidentally killed 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 53 

by an electric shock in one of the University build- 
ings, August 27th, 1907. 

Of the eleven sons of Samuel Jefferson Carter, the 
first eight are deceased without male issue. General 
William H. Carter has one son, William Vaulx Car- 
ter, and Frank Cook Carter has one son, William 
Dawley Carter. These two young men, William 
Vaulx Carter and William Dawley Carter, are all of 
their generation bearing the name of Carter, in the 
direct line traced in this memoir. 

By means of the records of Henrico County, Vir- 
ginia, the county seat of which is Richmond ; the rec- 
ords of Prince Edward County, Virginia, the county 
seat of which is Farmville; the records of Halifax 
County, Virginia, the county seat of which is Hous- 
ton ; parish registers and family records, the line of 
descent is traced from Giles and Hannah Carter ; to 
Theodrick (First) and Elizabeth Carter; to Theod- 
rick (Second) and Anne Carter; to John and Mary 
Carter ; to Robert and Unity Cook Carter ; to Samuel 
Jefferson and Anne Vaulx Carter; to General Wil- 
liam Giles Harding and Ida Dawley Carter. 

The following wills, together with various public 
records, have served to establish the direct line of 
family descent, from Giles Carter (First), born in 
1634, to Robert Carter, born in Halifax County, Vir- 



54 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

ginia, December 22d, 1770, who died at Franklin, 
Williamson Comity, Tennessee, September 9th, 1839: 

WILL OF JAMES CREWE. 

July ye 23d, 1676. 

In the name of God Amen I James Crews of Turky Island planter 
in Henrico County being of sound & perfect memory praysed be God 
doe make and ordaine this my last will testatament in manner & forme 
following first & principle I committ my soule into the hands of Al- 
mighty God my creater hoping & assured by beleiving through the 
merritts death & passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer 
to have & obtaine free and full remission & pardon for all my sins, as 
touchinge concerninge all my worldly estate, either here in Virginia in 
England or elsewhere dew either by bill bond or accoumpt. 

Imprimis. Item I give & bequeath unto Mary Carter daughter to 
Giles Carter tenn thousand pounds of tobo: & cask one feather bed two 
blanketts & one good rugge, this to be payd in three years after my 
decease, the interest hereof to be towards her clothinge. 

Item I give unto Susan Carter tenn thousand pounds of tobo: & 
casq: one feather bed two blanketts & one rugge to be payd as above 
said. 

Item. I give unto my man Tero his his freedome he servinge three 
years after my decease, and at the expiracon of the said tyme I give 
unto him one Cow, one sow if I have any left, and as much land as he 
shall tend for him & another during life. 

Item. I give unto Hannah Carter wife to Giles Carter my negroe 
maid Keate for ever and her increase. 

Item. I give unto Daniel Price my best suite & coate I have. 

Item. I give unto Giles Carter what he owes me by bill or booke and 
further the plantacon which I have formerly lett him that he & his 
wife Hannah Carter shall have it during both their lives rent free, only 
paying one Graine of Indian Corne when demanded and further it is 
my will that what I have given to the said Giles Carter's children, that 
if either of them should dye that it should come to the rest of hie 
children. It is further my will that when the said Hannah Carter wife 
to the said Giles Carter shall die, then the said negroe wench returne 
to Theodrick Carter her son and if shee hath any children them to be 
at her disposing who she will give them too. 



DIEECT LINE OF DESCENT 55 

Item. I make my loving Cozen Mr. Mathew Crews my sole executor 
of all my lands here in Virginia, or else where & all the rest of my 
estate to him or his heirs forever, my just debts being payd. 

Item. It is my desire that my loving friend Giles Carter shall live 
here in my said house & comand my servants & make crops or any 
other thinge as shall be convenient & necessary for the said plantacon, 
and soe to give an account yearly as my said Executor shall order. 
Test. Ja: Crewes. 

thence A Tho: Forehand 
Devenot Enroughty. 

Proveed in Henrico County Court to be 
the last will & testament of Capt. James 
Crews (dece'd) by the witnesses to the 
same as by their deposicons taken the 
10th of Xber 1677 (in case of mortality) 
will appeare & certifyed & entered 
amongst the records of the said Court 
this 2d day of August 1680. 

H. Davis, dep. cler. cur. 

WILL OF GILES CARTER. 

In the name of God Amen. I Giles Carter Senr: being of a weake and 
infirm body yet (Blessed be god) of a sound and perfect memory: And 
considering the frailty and incertainty of man's Life and not knowing 
the time of my departure hence; I doe make Constitute and appoint 
this my last Will and Testam't: hereby Revoaking all other wills by 
me heretofore made whatsoever Imprs: I comend my Soul into the 
hands of my Blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ Relying only upon his 
merits for Salvation. My Body I commit to the Earth to be decently 
therein Interred. And for what worldly Goods and possessions God 
hath bestowed upon me, It is my will and desire they may be disposed 
of in form & manner folowing. 

I Give and bequeath to my son Theodrick Carter five shillings Sterl'g 
to be paid by my Deare wife Hannah either in Silver or to the full 
value thereof as to her shall seeme most convenient. Item I Give to 
my Daughter Susanna now ye wife of Thos. Williamson live Shillings 
Sterling to be paid as above s'd. Item. I give & bequeath to my 
daughter Mary now ye wife of Thomas Davis five Shills. Sterl'g to be 
paid as aforesaid. Item. I give to my Daughter Ann now the wife of 
James Davis, one fether bed and Bolster, one Rugg, one blanket and 



56 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

one Cow. Item. I give to my son Giles one mare called Nanny with her 
increase for ever, It being a mare formerly given to him by William 
Sewell she then being but a Philly. 

These Legacies being paid as also wt debts have or shall be lawfully 
by me contracted, being fully satisfied. It is my will and desire that 
what of my Estate shall Remaine (one f ether bed and furniture only 
excepted) for my wife Hannah (which I give unto her) may be equally 
divided into two parts, the one part whereof to belong to my wife Han- 
nah the other to my son Giles. It not being my intent or design'd in 
any wise hereby to disannull or make voide a deed of Gift formerly by 
me made to my son Giles and entred upon Record. But I doe by this 
my last will and testament Rattifie and confirm the same. Item. It 
is my will and desire that what Estate shall appertaine to my son Giles 
that he may receive the same when he shall arrive to ye age of eighteen 
years; and also enjoy the benefit of his Labour, my wife Hannah not 
being any wise mollested or disturbed upon the plantacon wee now live 
upon during her life. 

And lastly I make Constitute and appoint my dear and loveing wife 
Hannah full and sole Execx: of this my last will & Testament, the 
which I own to be my Last; All others being hereby Disannulled and 
made voide. As Witness my hand and seals this 14th day of December, 
1699. 

Giles Cartek (Seal of Red Wax.) 

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us: 

Thomas Smythes. 

William T. Sewell 

James D. Davis 

Henrico County Febr's ye 2: 1701/2. Proved in open Court by the 
oaths of subscribed Witnesses as to be the Last will and testam't of the 
subscribed Giles Carter. 

Testl James Cocke, CI. Cur. 

WILL OF THEODRICK CARTER (FIRST). 
In the name of God Amen I, Theodrick Carter of the Parish & County 
of Henrico being sick but of perfect Memory do this Twenty Second 
day of July one thousand seven hundred thirty six make this my last 
Will and Testament, and first and principally I commit my Soul to 
Almighty God in whom and by whose Mercy and thro, the Merits of my 
Blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ I trust and Assuredly be- 
lieve to be saved, my Body to the earth to be decantly Buryed at the 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 57 

discretion of my Executx. hereafter named, and as for Disposing my 
estate I give and devise the same in manner and form following. I 
give and devise unto my Beloved wife Elizabeth so long as she shall 
live sole my plantation Land and Appurtenances and after her Death or 
Marriage, I give unto my Son Theodrick Carter and his heirs forever 
my said plantation with two hundred and eighteen Acres of Land 
thereto belonging I give and devise unto my son John Carter and his 
heirs forever one hundred and Twenty acres Land be the same more 
or less within the following Bounds, beginning at a corner Beach stand- 
ing on Round Hill Branch thence along a line of marked Trees to a 
corner Hickory on the Dividing Line between John Spears and this 
Land to a Corner Oak on the farther side of the Road thence along the 
line of John Webb to a corner Tree on Chickahominy Swamp thence up 
the same to ye place began at; my wife is not to be excluded the use of 
this Land so long as she shall remain sole, during which time, I give 
her my Negro named Will and after that time I give him to my son 
Theodrick with a Negro child named Dick. I give unto my son John 
and his heirs after the Death or Marriage of his Mother my Negro 
woman Judith and a Mullato Girl named Lucy with what children they 
may have when he has a right to the possession of them. I give unto 
my said Son John one fether Bed Rug and Blanket, one Gun, my great 
Chist, one pot and Hooks and two Cows, I give unto my Daughter Mary 
Carter one Cow and Calf one fether Bed, Rug and Blankets, two Ews, 
one pot and Hooks, two pewter Dishes and two plates and one poringer. 
I give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all the rest of my Estate of what 
kind soever and do make her Executrix of this my last Will and Testa- 
ment, hereby directing that my Estate shall not be Inventoryed or ap- 
praised. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed 
my seal the day and year aforewritten. 

Theodrick Carter (Seal). 

Signed Sealed 
published and declared 
as his last Will and 
Testament in presence of 
Thomas Watkins 
John Spear 
Will W. Loatham 

At a Court held at Varina for the County of Henrico, the first Monday 
in Ap'l 1737, this Will was presented by Elizabeth Carter the Executrix 



58 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

upon Oath and proved by the Oath of Thomas Watkins & John Spear 
two of the Witness thereto and thereupon admitted to record, and on 
the Motion of the said Executrix, Certificate is granted her for obtain- 
ing a probate thereof in Due form. 

Test: Bowler Cocke, CI. Cur. 

WILL OF THEODRICK CARTER (SECOND). 

In the name of God, Amen: I Theodrick Carter of the Parish of 
Saint Patrick and County of Prince Edward being of perfect and sound 
mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testa- 
ment in manner following. 

First, I give unto my daughter Susannah Stubblefleld and sons John, 
Theodrick and William Carter each one shilling sterling. 

I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Carter one negro man 
named Dick, and one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs 
forever. 

I give and bequeath my daughter Nanny Waddill Thompson one negro 
girl named Fibb now in her possession, also two cows and calves to her 
and her heirs forever. 

I give and bequeath unto my son Waddill Carter that part of my 
lands within the following bounds, to begin at the cross branch at the 
road, to run a straight line by the grave yard to his own line, all the 
land below this line on the North side of said road, also one negro man 
named Tom to him and his heirs forever. 

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Molley Carter one negro girl 
named Agg and one negro girl named Nanny, also the mare I purchased 
of Col. Robert Lawson, her own saddle and bridle, one feather bed and 
furniture, four head of sheep and two cows, to her and her heirs forever. 

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Salley Carter one negro boy 
named Will and one negro boy named Abraham, the sorrel mare I pur- 
chased of Charles Williamson, one feather bed and furniture, her own 
saddle and bridle, four head of sheep and two cows, to her and her heirs 
forever. 

I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Carter the remainder of 
the lands and plantation whereon I now live and the following negros, 
Moll and her child Neptune, also all and residue of my estate not herein- 
before particularly mentioned of what kind or nature soever, except 
two-thirds of my pewter and the two negroes named Jack and Sarah, 
these two negroes Jack and Sarah I leave to my two daughters Molley 



DIEECT LINE OF DESCENT 59 

and Salley for their support till they marry or die and then my son 
Samuel, and desire that my executors hereafter named may devide my 
pewter into three equal parts and allot to my son Samuel and daughters 
Molley and Salley each and equal part thereof, the estate herein willed 
to my son Samuel I give to him and his heirs forever, and it is my will 
that so long as my daughters Molley and Salley live single that they 
have the free use and liberty of their chamber in my dwelling house 
without the denial or interruption of my son Samuel. 

It is my further will that should my said son Samuel depart this life 
without leaving issue, in that case the lands herein willed to him and 
every part of my estate bequeathed him, I give and bequeath unto my 
said two daughters Molley and Sally to be equally devided between them 
by my executors hereafter named unless my said two daughters should 
agree on a division themselves, which estate I bequeath to them and 
their heirs forever, (should it so happen my son Samuel) It is my 
will that all the negroes I'm possessed of be continued on my plantation 
the next year to make a crop. 

Lastly I do constitute and appoint my son Waddill Carter and friends 
Nathaniel Venable and Francis Watkins Executors of this my last will 
and testament, hereby revoking and declaring void all other wills by 
me heretofore made. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh 
day of December in the year of Christ one thousand seven hundred and 
seventy-seven. 

Theo'd Carter ( Seal ) . 
Signed, sealed, published ] 
and declared by the tes- I A gnes Watkins 
tator to be his last will f William Waddill 
and testament. 
Elizabeth Clarke. 

At a Court held for Prince Edward County January 19th, 1778. 

This last will and testament of Theodrick Carter deceased was pre- 
sented in Court by the Executors therein named and proved by the 
oaths of Agnes Watkins and William Waddill witnesses thereto and 
ordered to be recorded. On the motion of Waddill Carter, Nathaniel 
Venable and Francis Watkins, who gave bond and took the oath re- 
quired by law, certificate for obtaining a probate thereof in due form 
is granted them. 

Teste: F. Watkins, C. C. 



60 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

WILL OF JOHN CARTER. 
In the name of God Amen. I John Carter of Halifax County, Being 
indisposed in body but of perfect mind and memory, I praise God for 
the same, do make, constitute and ordain this, and none other but this, 
to be my last will and testament in form and manner following, that is, 
I order, will and desire for all my lawful debts to be paid by my Execu- 
tors. Item, I lend to my well beloved wife, Mary Carter, during her 
widowhood for her use and the bringing up and educating my children 
the land and plantation whereon I now live with the use benefit and 
labour of the following slaves, Jack, Charles, James, Baker, Tainor, 
with my stock of all kinds, whatever household furniture &c. Item. I 
give to my daughter Ann Waddill, twenty-five shillings. Item. I give 
and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Carter, one negro boy named 
Sam, also one feather bed and furniture. To her my said daughter and 
to her heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter 
Mary Carter, one negro boy named Crafford, also one feather bed and 
furniture, to her my said daughter and to her heirs and assigns forever. 
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Judith Carter one negro girl, 
named Hannah, also one feather bed and furniture. To her my said 
daughter and to her heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and be- 
queath unto my daughter Salley Carter, seventy-five pounds specia in 
gold or silver also a feather bed and furniture. To her my said daugh- 
ter and to her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my three 
eldest sons Richard Theodrick and Robert Carter my creek land I pur- 
chased of George Ridley containing 450 acres which I desire may be 
equally divided between the three brothers, also a good feather bed and 
furniture apiece. And in case either of the said three boys should die 
before they come of age for the surviving said brothers to inherit the 
land of the deceased by equal division, to them my said three sons and 
their heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son 
James Carter the land whereon I now live with a good feather bed and 
furniture to him my said son and his heirs forever. Item. I give and 
bequeath to my son Francis Carter two hundred and ninety acres of 
land lying out on the road adjoining the land of Mr. Hobson also a good 
feather bed and furniture to be given to him my said son and to his 
heirs and assigns forever. Item, in case either of my two youngest 
sons Francis or James Carter should die before they come to the age of 
21 years the surviving of the two is to heir the deceased brothers share 
of land. My will and desire is that in case either of my daughters that 
is Elizabeth, Mary, Judith or Salley Carter should die before they come 



DIRECT LINE OF DESCENT 61 

of age or marry, that their legacy bequeathed to them shall be equally 
divided among the surviving sisters above mentioned. Item. My will 
and desire is that at the coming of age of my youngest son that the 
above mentioned slaves, Jack, Charles, James, Baker, Tamer with the 
future increase, likewise with all the rest residue and remainder of my 
personal estate be it of whatever nature kind or quality, should be 
equally divided among my beloved wife and children as before men- 
tioned and described, my daughter Ann Waddill excepted. And lastly I 
appoint, constitute and ordain my beloved wife Mary Carter, Executrx 
also Captain James Turner, Mr. William Boyd, with my brothers Rich- 
ard and Theo Carter Executors of this my last will and testament, hop- 
ing they will see the same duly performed, as my trust is in them re- 
posed. Confirming this and none other but this to be my last will and 
testament in witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my 
seal this 18th day of June 1781. 
Signed sealed published and declared to be his 

last will and testament. John Caeteb L. S. 

Test. Benja. Hobson 

David Bates 

Chs. Carter 

Noel Waddill 

Theo Carter 

At a Court held for Halifax County the 20th day of September 1781 
this last Will and Testament of John Carter deceased was exhibited in 
Court by Mary Carter and Richard Carter two of the Executors herein 
named and the same was proved by the oaths of two of the subscribing 
witnesses hereto and the same was ordered to be recorded. And on the 
motion of the said Executors who made oath hereto according to Law 
Certificate is granted them for obtaining Probate hereof in due form 
they giving securities, whereupon they together with Noell Waddill and 
William Watkins their securities entered into and acknowledged Bond 
for the same according to law. 

Test Geo. Carrington C. H. C. 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE. 

As has been previously stated, it is a matter of rec- 
ord that Giles Carter, the first of that name to come 
from Gloucestershire to America, sailed from Bristol, 
England, on the Supply and arrived at Berkeley 
Hundred, Virginia, January 29th, 1621 (O. S.), or 
February 8th of the current calendar, and that he re- 
turned to England. 

The next Giles Carter found in Virginia, whose 
descendants this memoir concerns, was born in 1634 
and at the time of Bacon's Rebellion, 1676, was 
living with his wife and children at Turkey Island, 
Virginia, and later took up land near the White 
Oak Swamp in Henrico County. This county em- 
braced the second English settlement in America, 
Henricopolis, established by Sir Thomas Dale with 
150 settlers in 1611. All that remains of the early 
records of the then extensive County of Henrico are 
preserved at Richmond, and amongst these were 
found the wills of Colonel James Crewe, that of Giles 
Carter and those of many of his descendants. 

The wills of Giles Carter of Henrico; of his son 
Theodrick (First) of Henrico; of his grandson The- 
odrick (Second) of Prince Edward, and of his great 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 63 

grandson John of Halifax are preserved in the rec- 
ords at the several county seats and serve to posi- 
tively establish the direct line of descent down to the 
fifth generation represented by Robert Carter, who 
with his wife, Unity Cook Carter, and their children, 
moved from Halifax County, Virginia, to William- 
son County, Tennessee, in 1805. Family Bibles and 
other records complete the identification of the direct 
descendants to the present generation. 

The records of collateral branches have not been 
completed, but in the search for records of the direct 
line numerous wills and documents have been exam- 
ined and noted for the use of other descendants who 
may wish to trace a particular branch of this family. 

The deposition and will of Giles Carter, previously 
cited, together with a deed recorded by Theodrick 
Carter (First), show that Giles was born in 1634 and 
died between December 14th, 1699, and March 2d, 
1701. 

In 1687, Thomas Cocke conveyed to Stephen Cocke 
200 acres of land, ' ' one part of which was part of ye 
tract or dividend of land at Malvern Hills," which 
included the mill property. In 1701, Stephen Cocke 
conveyed 56 acres, on which the mill stood, to John 
Pleasants. The witnesses to this deed were James 
Cocke, Theodrick Carter (First) and Benj. Hatcher. 
This, in connection with the will of Colonel James 



04 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Crewe, and certain land transactions with John 
Pleasants previously cited, shows that Theodrick was 
of age when his father's will was executed in 1699. 
lie lived until some time between July, 1736, and 
April, 1737, as shown by his own will.* 

The will of Giles Carter, Jr., only brother of 
Theodrick Carter (First), has not been discovered, 
but his father's will showed that he was under eigh- 
teen years of age in 1699. 

Giles Carter, son of Giles and Hannah Carter, re- 
corded a deed, July 27th, 1711, of a parcel of land 
which Giles Carter, Sr., purchased from William 
Cocke, April 5th, 1685, the land being located in Hen- 
rico County, Virginia. 

Among the patents to new land recorded in Hen- 
rico County, Virginia, in 1724, and 1725, is the fol- 
lowing grant to Giles Carter: " Beginning at a cor- 
ner black oak of Mr. James Powell Cockes, standing 
on the west side of a small path and in Machames 
line parting the said Cocke and John Cocke, thence 
to the said James Powell Cockes line south one hun- 
dred and sixteen poles to a corner pine, thence west 
eighty poles to a corner ash standing on the east side 
<>f Dee)) Run, etc." 

* " Malvern Hills " probably derived its name from the range of hills 
about thirty miles north of Bristol which separates Gloucestershire 
from Hereford and Worcestershire, England. 



COLLATEEAL LINEAGE 65 

The following abstract from the records of Hen- 
rico Parish shows that Giles Carter was still living in 
1735 in the same locality : 

" In obedience to an order of the Vestry of this 
parish, and according to the directions of an act of 
Assembly entitled an act for settling the titles and 
bounds of land and for preventing unlawful shooting 
and ranging thereupon; We the subscribers have 
gone in procession of the General Lands within our 
precinct as by order dated December ye 6, 1735, with 
the freeholders, f olloweth, viz : 

Theodrick Carter, his land processioned. 
Gerrard Ellyson, " " " 

Robert Ferris, " " " 

William Ferris, " " " 

************* 

" Edward Mosby refuses to procession part of the 
land of Thomas Epps processioned in the precinct; 
the lines between John Cocke and Giles Carter that is 
in the county. 

" Given under our hands ye last day of March, 
1736. 

Test: John Cocke, 
Giles Carter, 
Gerrard Ellyson." 



66 GILES CAETEPi OF VIRGINIA 

Among the detailed reports of the processioning 
appears : 

' ' The lines between John Cocke and William Pas- 
sons both agreed in the presence of Giles Carter and 
Thos. Jolley. The line between John Cocke and Jo- 
seph Woodson processioned. The line between Cols. 
Harrison and William Lewis, and Thomas Watkins 
and Thomas Binford and Edward Mosely, proces- 
sioned and agreed in presence of James Powel Cocke, 
John Cocke, Giles Carter, John Owin." 

It was the lawful custom to have the boundaries of 
all land patents examined every fourth year by a 
commission appointed to " procession " the land in 
each precinct. 

At the next processioning of land, four years later, 
pursuant to an order of the vestry, dated July 21st, 
1739, John Carter, a son of Theodrick Carter (First), 
and nephew of Giles Carter (Second), served as a 
member of the board for the precinct and the report 
appears in the parish vestry records. 

At the processioning of August 4th, 1747, one of 
John Carter's sons served with Samuel Bugg and 
Gerrard Ellyson, but in 1755, 1759, 1767 and 1771 
John Carter resumed service as one of the proces- 
sioners for the precinct which is generally described 
as : " From the mouth of Boar Swamp to the County 
line on Chickahominy Swamp, thence southward to 



COLLATEKAL LINEAGE 67 

the Long Bridge road or to the forks of Long Bridge 
and Bottom Bridge roads." 

The land of Theodrick Carter, processioned by 
John Cocke, Giles Carter (Second), and Gerrard 
Ellyson, shown in their report of " ye last day of 
March, 1736," appears to be the land on the south 
side of Chickahominy Swamp, known as the " Round 
Hills " place, obtained by Theodrick Carter (First) 
from John Pleasants through an exchange for land 
received by Theodrick (First) from his father, Giles 
Carter, Sr. The Round Hills property was left 
by Theodrick Carter (First), in his will, to his son 
John Carter, brother of Theodrick (Second). 

In the Virginia State Archives there is a petition 
in regard to the boundary line of Henrico and Han- 
over Counties under date of May 23d, 1774, as 
follows : 

" To the Honorable the Speaker and Gentlemen of 
the House of Burgesses : 

" Your petitioners humbly show that they are 
deeply interested in the bounds of their lands on the 
Chickahominy Swamp. Therefore, we pray that if it 
shall be the opinion of this Honorable House, that it 
is reasonable that the said boundaries shall be ascer- 
tained by commissioners, that such commissioners 
may be chosen from Chesterfield, King William or 
some distant county, who are in no way in affinity or 



68 GILES CAETEE OF VIEGINIA 

connected with any of the Proprietors of Lands on 
the said swamp, and your petitioners in duty bound 
shall pray, etc. 

James Cocke. Jacob Ferris. William Carter. 

John Pleasants. John Ferris. John Binford. 
Thomas Watkins. John Carter. James Eppes. r 

One of the Carter daughters had married an 
Eppes, and the petitioners generally had lived as 
neighbors through several generations. 

Of the same date as the foregoing petition another 
was sent in with practically the same signers as be- 
fore, including the Carters, and set forth, that fearing 
trouble if any attempt should be made to introduce 
new methods of laying off boundaries: " That your 
petitioners apprehend that good and salutary law 
now subsists in this colony for ascertaining the 
bounds of every person's land by going round the 
same by way of procession once in four years." 

The will of John Carter, son of Theodrick (First) 
and brother of Theodrick (Second), executed Decem- 
ber 1st, 1785, and probated before Henrico court in 
Richmond January 2d, 1786, names his son Theod- 
rick, to whom a nominal legacy is made; son John, 
Jr., to whom is willed the land on White Oak Swamp, 
on which John, Jr., was then living, containing two 
hundred acres ; daughter Frances Walton, to whom a 
nominal legacy is provided. A deed, dated April 5th, 



COLLATEEAL LINEAGE 69 

1773, by John Carter, is recorded in Henrico County 
in which one negro slave is given to each of his grand- 
children John Carter Walton, Marv Walton and 
Elizabeth Walton, children of his daughter Frances 
Walton of Charlotte County. To his son William 
were given all the remaining lands joining that al- 
ready owned by William and bounded by other land 
deeded to William's brother Jacob; son Sherwood; 
son Jacob, to whom was given " one negro fellow 
named Giles," which indicated that the old Carter 
name of " Giles " was perpetuated amongst the 
slaves; granddaughter Betsy Gannaway Carter 
(daughter of Jacob and Mary Carter) to whom three 
negroes were willed; granddaughter Betsy Carter 
(daughter of John and Anne Carter), to whom was 
given one negro boy. Four of the sons, John, Wil- 
liam, Sherwood and Jacob Carter, were appointed 
executors, and were directed to sell two negroes to 
pay any debts, the balance of the slaves being distrib- 
uted under the will. 

The wills of John Carter's sons, John, Jr., and 
Sherwood, are recorded in Henrico Coimty. Those 
of Theodrick, William and Jacob have not been 
found. These five brothers were grandsons of Theod- 
rick Carter (First) and his wife Elizabeth. 

The will of John Carter, of Henrico County, son of 
John and Elizabeth Carter and grandson of Theod- 



\S 



70 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

rick Carter (First), was executed the 6th of Decem- 
ber, 1799, and probated the 1st of September, 1800. 
The witnesses were Theodrick Carter, Wm. Garth- 
right and James Binford. The executors were his 
brother Jacob Carter and Jacob's son John. The will 
mentions his wife Anne, whose will is also of record ; 
his daughter Betsy, who married Mr. Eppes; his 
daughter Polly P. Carter; his wife's sister Sarah 
Carter, the widow of one of his kinsmen. The will of 
Anne Carter appoints John Carter of New Kent 
County sole executor. To her grandson, Temple 
Eppes, she gave a ' ' grey horse ; and also fifty dollars 
to be expended on him in schooling." To her daugh- 
ter Polly P. Carter, she gave " my sorrel mare and 
colt, one cow and calf, one pair of the largest red 
steers, which are unbroak to the yoak, three first 
choice pair sheets, one first choice pair white counter- 
pins, one pair diamonded yard counterpins, one pair 
new flannel blankets, my rideing chair and harness, 
all my window curtains, and fifty dollars in cash to 
repair the chair. ,: The will of Anne Carter was ex- 
ecuted the 7th of April, 1807, the witnesses being 
Jacob Carter, Moses Carter, Policy Austin and Jacob 
Ferris. There is no mention of Moses Carter in any 
of the recorded wills. He was probably a son of 
Jacob Carter whose will has not been found. 

The will of Sherwood Carter of Henrico County, 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 71 

son of John and Elizabeth Carter and grandson of 
Theodrick Carter (First), was executed the 22d of 
June, 1797, and probated the 4th of September, 1797. 
The witnesses were John Carter, William Fussel and 
Thomas Epperson. The executors were his brother 
Jacob Carter and his (Sherwood's) son William. 
The will mentions his wife Frances, whose will is also 
of record ; son Joseph ; son William ; daughter Bet- 
sey, who married Mr. Brackett ; son Theodrick ; son 
Samuel; son John. The will of Frances, widow of 
Sherwood Carter, executed the 20th of October, 1808, 
mentions a grandson Robert, son of William Carter, 
and a granddaughter Frances Brackett, daughter of 
Betsey Brackett. 

There is of record a will by Theodrick Carter of 
Henrico County, executed the 9th of December, 1809, 
which mentions his wife Ann; son Theodrick B.; 
daughter Kitty; daughter Nancy. The testator is 
believed to have been the son of Sherwood Carter. 
This is the only will in the family so far discovered 
which makes a special legacy of books; to his son 
Theodrick B. Carter he gave, " all my books and all 
the silver and plate about my house of all descrip- 
tions." 

There is a will of record in Henrico Countv, ex- 
ecuted October 31st, 1796, by Benjamin Carter, and 
witnessed by John Carter, Robert Binford and Na- 



72 GILES CAETER OF VIRGINIA 



thaniel Maynard, in which it is provided that: 
' ' whereas my son Theodrick Carter has had his part 
of my horses, I desire he may not share in them ;" he 
participated in the residue of the estate which was 
divided between the four children Theodrick Carter, 
Betsy Carter, Nancy Carter and Frankey Carter. 

The sons of Giles Carter were Theodrick (First) 
and Giles, Jr. ; Theodrick (First) had only two sons, 
Theodrick (Second) and John, and of all their sons, 
named in their wills, there is no mention of a Benja- 
min. But Benjamin named his only son Theod- 
rick and lived in the same locality from whence 
have sprung all the family of Carters perpetuating 
that name, and his will was witnessed by a Carter and 
a Binford. His generation would correspond to that 
following Giles Carter (Second), and it is believed 
that Benjamin Carter was one of the sons of Giles 
Carter (Second), of whose will no record has yet been 
found, and that Giles Carter (Third) was another 
son. 

The Henrico County, Virginia, records contain 
many references to the Carters, particularly the de- 
scendants of John Carter, son of Theodrick Carter 
(First) and grandson of Giles Carter (First). From 
these entries the following extracts were made : 

September 28th, 1772, there is a record, subse- 
quently acknowledged in court at the April term, 



COLLATEKAL LINEAGE 73 

1773, in which Giles Carter of Henrico County sold 
to Drury Wood one negro slave named Aaron and 
two horses, ' ' The one a large gray horse with a hang- 
ing mane and switch tail, branded on the near buttock 
with two dots and on the near shoulder with one dot," 
etc. 

April 8th, 1784, there is an entry that: " Giles Car- 
ter this day produced in open court a commission 
under the hand and seal of his Excellency Benjamin 
Harrison, Esq., Governor or Chief Magistrate of the 
commonwealth, appointing him an Inspector of to- 
bacco at Rocketts warehouse in this County, and 
thereupon the oath of office was administered unto 
him, who also with Martin Hawkins and John Smith, 
his security, entered into and acknowledged their 
bond in the penalty of one thousand pounds payable 
and conditioned as the law directs." 

The two foregoing records relate to Giles Carter 
(Third), of Henrico County. 

January 3d, 1785, Jacob Carter appeared in court 
as security for Joshua Morris as guardian of the or- 
phans of Thomas Watkins, deceased. The same day 
James Carter entered a petition against Bernard 
Webb. 

February 7th, 1785, Jacob Carter was appointed 
by the court as appraiser of the estate of Benjamin 
Garthright. 



74 GILES CAKTER OF VIEGINIA 

December 1st, 1785, John Carter sold to his son Ja- 
cob a parcel of land ; refers to a parcel intended for 
liis son John, Jr. ; also refers to William Carter's Mill 
Pond, and to main run of Chickahominy Swamp. 

January 2d, 1786, the will of John Carter was 
proved by Matthew Hobson and Anselum Garth- 
right; William Carter executor. 

September 4th, 1786, indenture between John Car- 
ter, Sr., and Jacob Carter recorded. 

May 11th, 1787, Sewell Carter brought suit against 
Giles Carter ; suit later dismissed. 

August 6th, 1788, ordered that Thomas Williamson 
pay Giles Carter as witness for attendance in admin- 
istrator's settlement of estate. 

December 2d, 1788, W T illiam Carter entered a peti- 
tion at the monthly court. 

May 5th, 1789, a suit in chancery before the quar- 
terly court between Giles Carter and John Smith 
against Nathaniel Miller. 

April 4th, 1792, ordered by the court that William 
A. Smith pay Giles Carter twenty-five pounds of to- 
bacco for one day's attendance at court. 

Armistead Carter mentioned several times in rec- 
ords of this period. 

January 5th, 1795, Jacob Carter appointed Com- 
missioner of the Revenue. 

February 2d, 1795, Thomas Binford petitioned to 



COLLATEKAL LINEAGE 75 

turn the road leading from Bottoms Bridge to Wood- 
son's Ferry. Jacob Carter one of three ordered to 
view the proposed route " and make report of the 
conveniences and inconveniences of the said intended 
road." 

August 5th, 1796, Susannah Carter administratrix 
of Robert Carter. 

October 2d, 1798, Theodrick Carter, petition 
against Benjamin Lewis. Same court Elizabeth 
Carter, widow of Benjamin Carter, recognized as 
administratrix. 

December 3d, 1798, James Binford executor of 
Benjamin Carter's will. Orphans of Benjamin Car- 
ter: Frances, Tilitha and Louisa; guardian of last 
two, Frederick Carter. 

January 5th, 1801, Theodrick Carter, orphan of 
Sherwood Carter, made choice of Jonathan Brackett 
as guardian. 

September 4th, 1809, Theodrick Carter and his 
wife Nancy sold a parcel of land to John B. Pember- 
ton; mentions land of Charles Carter's orphans and 
corner of Tilletha Carter's land. 

September 10th, 1810, Martha Carter recorded 
deed of land in favor of her son Samuel S. Carter. 

January 2d, 1811, Samuel Carter sold to Byrd 
George 192 acres of land, given to him by his mother, 
lying on the south side of White Oak Swamp. 



76 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

June 21st, 1811, Joseph G. Carter sold to John Car- 
tel' ID2 acres lying with that of Byrd George, Wil- 
liam Carter (deceased) and others. 

June 22d, 1811, John Carter and his wife Rebecca 
sold to Joseph Carter a parcel of land lying near 
Garthright's and Pleasants'. 

April 14th, 1812, John Carter and his wife Re- 
becca sold a tract of land on the stage road between 
Richmond and Bottoms Bridge, " near the land of 
William Carter (deceased), the land being a part left 
by Sherwood Carter." Witnessed by Dandridge 
Carter. 

July 30th, 1812, Joseph G. Carter sold 107 acres of 
land in Henrico. 

October 19th, 1818, Frances Carter sold to Theod- 
rick Carter, Jr., 109 acres of land for a nominal 
sum; witnesses to the deed John Carter, Sr., and 
Joseph Carter. The same day she recorded a similar 
deed for 107 acres to John Carter, Jr.; witnesses 
to the deed, Theodrick Carter and Joseph Carter. 
Under the same date she recorded a deed for 192 
acres, bounded by the land of Lindsay, Garthright, 
Goode, Childres and Holison, in favor of Samuel 
< arter; witnesses John Carter and Joseph Carter. 

November 5th, 1821, letters of administration on 
estate of Martha Carter granted to Samuel S. Carter. 

The foregoing facts concerning the descendants of 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 77 

John, the son of Theodrick Carter (First), and of 
Giles Carter (Second), the brother of Theodrick Car- 
ter (First), were examined into partly for the pur- 
pose of determining when the migration of Carters 
from Henrico began and to what portion of the fam- 
ily it was confined. As a result of this investigation 
it appears certain that the Carters of this family re- 
maining in Henrico were the descendants of Giles 
Carter (Second) and John Carter, the former a 
younger brother of Theodrick (First) and the latter 
a son of Theodrick (First) . It is necessary to bear in 
mind that Giles Carter, who was born in 1634, had 
only two sons, Theodrick (First) and Giles, Jr. 
Theodrick (First) had only two sons, Theodrick 
(Second) and John. Theodrick Carter (Second) 
left Henrico and lived, at the date of the execution 
of his will, in Prince Edward County. 

The will of Elizabeth, widow of Theodrick Carter 
(First), which was dated July 8th, 1747, and pro- 
bated in December, 1751, appointed her second son, 
John, as executor and principal legatee. It is proba- 
ble that her elder son, Theodrick (Second), to whom 
was devised the family Bible, was no longer residing 
in Henrico when the will was executed. 

The efforts to definitely determine the date of 
movement of Theodrick Carter (Second), and other 
members of the familv, from Henrico have been un- 



78 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

successful. The Henrico Parish records show that 
Rev. David Mossom was engaged to hold services 
there at regular intervals until about 1735. He 
was regularly in charge of St. Peter's Parish and re- 
corded some of the births of Henrico County Carters 
in that parish. 

St. Peter's Parish, in which the birth of John Car- 
ter, son of Theodrick (Second) and Anne Carter, 
August 26th, 1737, is recorded, was in New Kent 
County, south of the York and Panmnkey rivers. 
New Kent County was cut off from the upper part 
of York Comity in 1654. St. Peter's Parish church 
was only a few miles from the " White House," and 
the minister, Rev. David Mossom, performed the 
ceremony when George Washington was married to 
Martha Custis. Rev. David Mossom was followed 
in St. Peter's Parish by Rev. James Semple, and he 
was followed by Rev. Benjamin Blackgrove. A son 
of Robert and grandson of John Carter was named 
John Blackgrove Carter. The name of Blackgrove 
has not been found elsewhere, and John is believed to 
have been named after this minister, whose name was 
sometimes spelled Blagrove. 

The record of the birth of John Carter, eldest son 
of Theodrick Carter (Second) and his wife Anne, in 
the St. Peter's Parish register, together with the 
absence of the records of the births of numerous 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 79 

younger children, indicates that Theodrick moved to 
St. Patrick's Parish, Prince Edward Comity, where 
his will was made, after the birth of his son John. 
The rapidity with which new counties were formed 
south of the James indicates a widespread migration 
during the period under consideration. 

St. Patrick's Parish, Prince Edward County, 
where Theodrick Carter (Second), father of John 
of Halifax, lived when his will was made, was not es- 
tablished until June, 1755. In 1755 the parish was 
made to conform to the boundaries of Prince Edward 
Comity, which was taken from Amelia County in 
1754. Lunenburg County was formed in 1746 from 
Brunswick County and is not far distant from Prince 
Edward County. Halifax County was formed from 
Lunenburg County in 1752. 

The sons of Theodrick Carter (Second) of Prince 
Edward County, were John, Theodrick (Third), 
William, Richard, Waddill and Samuel. The wills 
of John and Theodrick (Third) are recorded in Hali- 
fax County. Certain details concerning Richard's 
orphan children, recorded in Halifax County, indi- 
cate that he left no will. 

It appears from the records of Prince Edward 
County wills that Waddill, son of Theodrick Carter 
(Second), married Mildred Wade and remained in 
the county until his death, as did Samuel, who re- 



80 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

ceived the home plantation by the will of his father, 
Theodrick Carter (Second). There is no record of 
the will of William in Prince Edward County. There 
is a record, in the adjoining County of Lunenburg, of 
the marriage of one William Carter and Mary Scott 
which would correspond to that generation. 

The will of Waddill Carter is recorded in Prince 
Edward County. It was executed April 6th, 1782, 
and probated at the following July session of the 
county court. The witnesses were Ro. Lawson, 
John Morton, Tho. Charlton and Abraham Venable. 
The executors were his brother Samuel Carter, his 
father-in-law James Wade and " my good friend 
Francis Watkins. ' : The will mentioned his wife Mil- 
dred (Wade) Carter, his sons James, Theodrick and 
John, all three under age when the will was executed. 
There were two or more young daughters, but their 
names were not given. 

There are several acts of the general assembly of 
Virginia which establish the presence of Samuel Car- 
ter in Prince Edward County and vicinity in 1795 
and in 1806. The first is an act to establish a town 
on the land of Alexander Le Grand, in the County of 
Prince Edward, which was passed December 14, 
1795: 

" Be it enacted by the general assembly; That 
twenty-five acres of land, the property of Alexander 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 81 

Le Grand, in the comity of Prince Edward, shall, and 
they are hereby vested in John Purnell, James Mor- 
ton, James Allen, Josiah Le Grand, Baker Le Grand, 
Samuel Carter, Charles Allen, sen., and Ryland Ran- 
dolph, gentlemen, trustees, to be by them, or a ma- 
jority of them, laid off into town lots of half an acre 
each, with convenient streets, and establish a town, 
by the name of Germantown. ' ' 

Another act of the Virginia assembly, passed Feb- 
ruary 1, 1806, appointed commissioners to view the 
way for a navigable canal from Roanoke to Appo- 
matox : 

" Whereas it is represented to be practicable to 
cut a navigable canal from the waters of Roanoke to 
the head of Buffalo creek, and to connect the same 
by the said creek with the river Appomatox: Be it 
therefore enacted, that Creed Taylor, Isaac H. Coles, 
Joseph Wyatt, Richard K. Randolph, Samuel Carter, 
Charles Scott and William B. Banks, be and they are 
hereby appointed commissioners, the duty of whom, 
or any three of them, it shall be, to examine the route 
most convenient for such a communication, and re- 
port thereupon their opinion, to the next assembly.'' 

Samuel Carter was a veteran of the Revolution, 
having served in the Virginia Line of the Continen- 
tals, and lived to a ripe old age. His will was executed 
December 17th, 1829, and probated May 18th, 1830. 



82 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

The witnesses were J. Miehaux, J. W. Franklin, R. 
Booker and James Madison. The executors were 
his sons William M. and Edward A. Carter, and his 
son-in-law Doctor John P. Mittauer, whose wife was 
Margaret E. Carter. 

The will of Theodrick Carter (Third) of Halifax 
County, Virginia, son of Theodrick Carter (Second) 
of Prince Edward County, was executed Julv 13th, 
1805. The executors appointed were his son Alexan- 
der Carter, and sons-in-law Richard E. Bennett and 
Mathew Cabaniss. The will mentions his sons 
Charles, Samuel, William, Alexander, Nathaniel, 
Thomas and Jessee; his daughters Elizabeth, wife 

of Richardson ; Ann, wife of Richard Bennett ; 

Susannah, wife of Mathew Cabaniss.* 

The family Bible shows two other sons of Theod- 
rick Carter (Third) : one, Townes, born April 28th, 
1767, by his first wife, and John, born July 26th, 1783, 
by his second wife. 

Amongst the old records of Lunenburg County, 

* Henri Cabaniss, a Huguenot refugee who had spent some time in 
England, came to Virginia in 1700 and died in 1725. He was married 
when he arrived. He had three sons, Mathew, Henri and George. 
Mathew married Hannah Clay, daughter of Thomas Clay, and had issue: 
Mathew, William, John, George and Charles. Mathew moved to Halifax 
County and married Susannah Carter, daughter of Theodrick and 
Judith Cunningham Carter. Mathew's brother George married a daugh- 
ter of Henry Harrison of Sussex, who was a son of Benjamin Harrison 
of Berkeley. 



COLLATERAL LINEAGE 83 

which have escaped destruction, are a few marriage 
records, one of which is the marriage bond of Theod- 
rick Carter and Molly Eelbank, dated November 
10th, 1763. It is probable that he was the son of John 
and Elizabeth Carter of Henrico, but he might have 
been their grandson. It is certain that he was not the 
son of Theodrick Carter (Second) of Prince Edward 
County of the same generation, for his son Theodrick 
(Third) married, first, Miss Townes, and, second, Ju- 
dith Cunningham, and lived in Halifax County, 
where his will is recorded, and where numerous de- 
scendants have continued to the present generation. 

While quite incomplete the foregoing data may be 
useful in identifying some of the families descended 
from Giles and Hannah Carter which became gradu- 
ally dispersed to numerous Virginia counties and 
thence, at an early period, to the new states from Vir- 
ginia to the Gulf and westward to the Rio Grande. 



THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY. 

During the month of September, 1620, two ships 
were fitted out in English ports, under charters to 
convey colonists to the extensive domain then con- 
trolled by the Virginia Company. The first to gel 
under way was the Mayflower, which hoisted anchor 
in Plymouth harbor and went to sea in a fair-sized 
gale on September 6th, 1620. It was designed by the 
council of the Virginia Company to have the Puritan 
colonists land in the vicinity of the Delaware Capes, 
but through intrigue or miscalculation of the master, 
the Mayflower, after a tempestuous voyage, first 
sighted land at Cape Cod and eventually dropped 
anchor in a bay previously visited and named by 
John Smith — " Plymouth." 

Whether it was by accident or design that the little 
band of Puritans disembarked on the bleak coast of 
New England, none can now view the incident as 
other than the work of Providence. The fierce gales 
of the Atlantic had told heavily upon the strength 
and vitality of all on board the ship, and before shel- 
ter could be prepared and the needful stores brought 
ashore, the grim harvester had sadly depleted the 



THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY 85 

ranks of the iron-hearted men and women engaged in 
establishing the initial plant of a civilization pos- 
sessed of an intense individuality which will charac- 
terize it through all history. 

Twelve days after the sailing of the Mayflower, 
Thomas Parker, Mayor of Bristol, England, cleared 
the ship Supply, destined for Berkeley Hundred on 
the James Eiver. The gale which had carried the 
Mayflower well to sea before its first tack had now 
died away and the Supply was destined to linger in 
the Avon and Severn from the 18th of September 
until the 25th awaiting a favorable breeze. The voy- 
age of the Mayflower across the Atlantic will go down 
the ages to typify the flight of a band of men and 
women who dared all for conscience' sake and won. 
The Supply sailed under different auspices, more 
akin to those which have since characterized the pas- 
sage of untold fleets, conveying millions upon millions 
to America, the land of hope and opportunity. 

Captain Newport's historic fleet had dropped an- 
chor off Jamestown Island a dozen years before the 
sailing of the Supply, yet all the efforts of the Vir- 
ginia Company had resulted in locating only a few 
hundred colonists in the immense area then passing 
under the title of Virginia. But the seed had been 
planted and, cost what it might, there was determina- 
tion that not a foot should be receded to the grasping 



86 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Spanish gold seekers hovering about the coasts, and 
whose daring explorers had already penetrated from 
the land of the Aztec to New Mexico, Colorado and 
the Great Plains, and had learned that the western 
ocean lay several thousand miles from the Virginia 
coast. 

In 1618 a partnership, having for its object the 
establishment of a plantation in Virginia, had been 
entered into by Sir William Throckmorton, Richard 
Berkeley, George Thorpe and John Smyth, all of 
Gloucestershire, and John Woodleefe. Upon the ad- 
vice of Sir Edwin Sands an interest was reserved for 
Sir John Yeardley, then serving in Virginia as gov- 
ernor of the colony, but this was subsequently sur- 
rendered by Yeardley. 

During the following year, 1619, a ship, the Mar- 
garet of Bristol (forty-seven tons), was sent out with 
thirty-two colonists under John Woodleefe, with in- 
structions to establish the town of Berkeley and the 
plantation of Berkeley Hundred on the James River. 
John Woodleefe sailed on the Margaret September 
4th, 1619, in charge of the expedition, and arrived in 
the James December 10th of the same year. George 
Thorpe followed on the Merchant of London during 
March, 1620. 

Ferdinando Yate, Gent., who came over in the Mar- 
garet, was commissioned to keep a record of the voy- 



THE BEEKELEY HUNDEED COLONY 87 

age, which he prepared under date of November 
30th, 1619, and which closes with this glowing trib- 
ute : " If I had the eloquence of Cesero or the skillful 
art of Apellese I could not pen neither paint out a 
better praise of the cuntrie than the cuntrie it selfe 
deserveth." 

At the session of the court of the Virginia Com- 
pany, of January 26th, 1619, an indenture was 
granted to William Tracy, Esq., of Hayles, Glouces- 
tershire, a brother of Sir Thomas Tracy, baronet, for 
the establishment of a colony of five hundred persons 
in Virginia, and on May 7th, 1620, Sir William 
Throckmorton transferred his interest in the planta- 
tion of Berkeley Hundred to Tracy. 

At a subsequent session of the court of the Vir- 
ginia Company, on June 28th, 1620, and upon the 
recommendation of Governor George Yeardley as to 
the need of a council, George Thorpe and William 
Tracy were, with four others, constituted the Council 
of State of Virginia. 

William Tracy was a cousin of Richard Berkeley. 
John Smyth was an Oxford graduate and the legal 
adviser of his friend Lord Berkeley, and both he and 
Sir William Throckmorton were connected with 
Tracy by family ties. 

There are but few details known of the voyages of 
the many ships which sailed across the Atlantic dur- 



88 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

ing the first half century of settlement — if all the 
frail boats of thirty tons and upwards may be prop- 
erly characterized as ships. Owing to the partner- 
ship agreements and the correspondence attending 
the assembling of the colonists from Gloucestershire 
who comprised the small company on the Supply, and 
who constituted the advance guard of the five hun- 
dred persons whom William Tracy undertook to em- 
bark in his scheme of colonization, certain records 
were preserved which enable a fairly correct under- 
standing to be had of this expedition. 

The Mayor of Bristol, in clearing the Supply, re- 
tained a list of those embarking, and, upon arrival of 
the ship in the James, Sir George Yeardley furnished 
a certificate with the names of those who arrived 
safely at Berkeley Hundred. An examination of 
correspondence and available county records makes 
it very evident that William Tracy organized the first 
detachment of his five hundred colonists mainly from 
his kinsmen and neighbors in Gloucestershire. Wil- 
liam Tracy was descended from Sir William de 
Tracy, one of the four knights, who, in 1170, at the 
instigation of King Henry II, assassinated Thomas 
a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. The family 
connection, especially in Gloucestershire, was very 
large. 



THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY 89 

Under date of July 5th, 1620, Tracy wrote to 
Smyth : 

" My household will be wife, dauter & Suue, 4 1 
Mayd servants & 6 men : so then for ye rest as mani or 
as few as yo will. Mr. Palet & Mr Gilf ort must be 
two more of my compani, so I shall be 16 persons at 
lest. My meaning is all these shall be imployed in ye 
common bisness." 

A postscript was added : 

" I would cari 10 or 12 dogs yt would be of great 
youse to us — let me know if they will let us cari 
them. ' ' 

Delay in the date of sailing caused Tracy to grow 
impatient and in his next letter to Smyth he wrote : 
" You have Nibli, he (Richard Berkeley) has Stoke, 
I have nothing but Virginia and it am I held from to 
live in shame and disgrace in England." The out- 
look for younger sons was never more gloomy in 
England than during the period covered by the early 
emigration to the Colony of Virginia. The list of 
Berkeley colonists comprised many men whose social 
station was attested by the addition of ' ' Gentleman ' 
to their names and who engaged to remain for periods 
of from two to seven years in the colony. The word 
servant of the Virginia Company, so often used, did 
not imply that the person referred to was a menial. 



90 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

The (Supply (eighty tons), Captain Tobias Fel- 
gate, was chartered from William Ewins of Bristol, 
England, and was litted out at that city for the voy- 
age to Virginia. Owing to its restricted accommoda- 
tions, and the well-known results of overcrowding 
such ships on long voyages at that time, a number 
who had prepared to sail were left behind to follow 
on the next ship. The fitting out of the Supply em- 
barrassed Tracy financially, but his kinsmen came 
promptly to his relief. The remarkable health rec- 
ord on the voyage was almost wholly due to his wise 
forethought and able preparation. 

With the colonists went books on English hus- 
bandry and the care of silk worms ; a great quantity 
of garden seeds and kt a reasonable quantity of the 
seeds of cotton wool. ' ' Mr. Smvth sent from his own 
nurseries " a great number of yonge stocks and of 
apple trees grafted with pippens, pearmaynes and 
other the best apples, which he hopeth for his own 
humor and aft'eceon sake therein you will have some- 
what the more care of, as also of the bagg of abricots, 
damosell and other plum stones he now sendeth." 

It should be remarked that thus early in the colony 
was recognized the necessity for diversified farming, 
for in the indenture granted to William Tracy and 
his associates is a covenant: " That they and all per- 
sons by them transported for their particular plan- 



THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY 91 

tacon, shall apply themselves and their labor in a 
large and competent manner to the plantinge, sow- 
inge, setting, making, working and procuringe of 
good and staple commodities, in and upon the lands 
granted unto them, as namely, corne, wine, oyle, silk 
gras, hempe, flax, pitch and tarre, sope ashes and 
potashes, iron, clapboards and other materials, and 
the like, and not wholly or chiefly upon tobacco. ' ' 

It does not require a vivid imagination to trace 
much of Virginia history from these apparently 
simple preparations and the bit of warning contained 
in the covenant forbidding the exclusive cultivation 
of tobacco. The introduction of the pippen has been 
a source of health and profit to Virginians for three 
centuries and has elevated " Albemarle ' from a 
merely local county to a section famous the world 
over for its apples. The cotton seed needed the long 
summer for maturity and was carried to the south by 
the gradual overflow of settlers from Virginia. To- 
bacco, being at an early date established as a cash 
crop and in fact as the only currency of the colony 
available for exchange with England, proved the lure 
which slowly sapped the life of a naturally rich soil, 
and in the course of years turned promising planta- 
tions into ' ' old pine fields, ' ' many of which have not 
yet regained the fertility so ruthlessly drained in the 
mad rush for immediate profit from the colonies. 



92 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Under the Virginia Company it was the custom for 
the governor of the colony to give a certificate to each 
ship on arrival, setting forth the list of passengers 
and such other mention as circumstances seemed to 
merit. Nearly all of these certificates have disap- 
peared, but the one concerning the arrival of the Sup- 
ply on this voyage, signed by Governor George 
Yeardley, is still preserved. The following is a copy 
of the certificate which contains also the signature of 
John Pory, the secretary of the colony: 

" These are to certifie the Right hononorable, 
Right Worshipfull and others of the Counsell and 
company for this First Southern Colony of Virginia, 
that there arrived at Barklay in the same country, 
for the account of the Society and the plantation of 
the said Hundred, upon the 29th of January, 1620/1 
(O. S.), these fifty persons, under written visit: — 

' ' William Tracy, Esq. ; Mary Tracy his wife ; 
Thomas Tracy their sonne ; Joyce Tracy their daugh- 
ter; Frances Grevell; Elizabeth Webbe; Alice Hes- 
kins ; Isabell Gilford ; Arnold Oldsworth, Esq. ; Rob- 
ert Pawlett, divine; Thomas Kemys, gent; John 
Hohnden, gent; Richard Fcrriby; George Keene, 
gent; Nicholas Combe, gent; William Finche, Mar- 
garet his wife and Frances their daughter; John 
Gil >bes ; Robert Baker ; John Howlett the elder ; John 
and William Howlett, his sonnes; Walter Prosser; 



THE BEEKELEY HUNDKED COLONY 93 

Giles Carter; George Hall; John Bailey; Thomas 
Baugh; Gabriel Holland; Richard Holland; Giles 
Wilkins ; Giles Broadway ; Richard Dalton ; Richard 
Milton; Joane Coopy; Antony Coopy and Elizabeth 
Coopy ; Philip Strange ; John Page and Francys, his 
wife; John Linzey; Roger Linzey; James Jelfe; 
Richard Rolles, Jane his wife and Benedict Rolles 
their sonne; Alexander Broadway; Arthur Kemys, 
gent. 

(Signed) George Yeardley, 

Jo: Pory, Sect." 

The certificate of Thomas Parker, Mayor of Bris- 
tol, gives the names of fifty-eight passengers on the 
Supply when cleared. There is extant some corre- 
spondence between William Tracy and John Smyth 
of Nibley concerning certain persons left behind on 
account of the crowded condition of the ship. 
Whether any of these were put ashore during the 
week the Supply lay in the Severn awaiting favor- 
able weather is not known. If none were put ashore 
after the ship was cleared the loss on the voyage 
amounted to eight souls, a not uncommon percentage 
in the vessels of that period. 

The Town and Hundred of Berkeley on James 
River — the present landing for this ancient planta- 
tion is known as Harrison's Landing — had been pre- 
viously under the management of Captain Woodleffe, 

7 



94 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

but the Supply brought the revocation of his appoint- 
ment and the new commissions of William Tracy and 
George Thorpe to be governors of Berkeley Town 
and Hundred. Tracy also brought a letter of instruc- 
tion and advice concerning Virginia affairs from 
Richard Berkeley and John Smyth. 

An agreement was entered into by Berkeley, 
Thorpe, Tracy, and Smyth, dated August 27th, 1620, 
to the end that whenever Richard Berkeley and John 
Smyth in England should disagree as to matters 
touching the colony in Virginia, questions at issue 
should be submitted to Sir William Throckmorton, 
knight and baronet ; Sir Thomas Roe, knight, and Sir 
Thomas Tracy, knight, brother of William Tracy, 
whose decision should prevail, without further argu- 
ment, in order that the colonists should not suffer 
from the delay incident to slow and uncertain com- 
munication. 

Soon after the arrival of the Supply a census was 
taken of all the colonists living in Virginia, and the 
report of March, 1621, showed that only 843 survived. 
The preceding twelve months had been specially dis- 
astrous to the newly arrived colonists located beside 
the fever infested swamps of the James. 

From such evidence as now exists it appears that 
Tracy employed his adherents in selecting suitable 
locations for those to follow from Gloucestershire 






THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY 95 

and that during the year many of them took up loca- 
tions in the neighboring country under his control. 
Tracy gave every evidence to his followers that he 
had come to cast his fortunes with the new country 
for his wife, a son Thomas and daughter Joyce, and 
one of her young kinswomen accompanied him. Not 
many months after their arrival, his daughter mar- 
ried Captain Nathaniel Powel, a member of the coun- 
cil in 1621 and for a time governor of the colony, and 
her young kinswoman, Frances Grevell, married De 
la Warr. The plantations of Lady De la Warr ad- 
joined the lands selected for the establishment of 
Berkeley Hundred. The colonists had encountered 
hardships of exceptional character, but had main- 
tained a determination to establish themselves per- 
manently. The fever infested sites were being grad- 
ually recognized; clearings were made, a variety of 
crops planted, and in fact everything was being un- 
dertaken which previous experience had suggested 
as necessary to make the colony self-supporting, if 
not profitable. 

The death of Tracy proved the first blow, soon fol- 
lowed by the appearance of a small cloud destined, as 
" The Indian Question,'' not only to terminate 
Tracy's dreams of a large Gloucestershire colony, but 
to come down through two and a half centuries to test 
the courage, ability and fair-mindedness of the 



96 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

American people. All unknown to the colonists 
along the James and the estuaries of the Chesapeake, 
a conspiracy was being formed, having for its object 
the wresting of their country from the English in- 
vaders and its restoration to its aboriginal owners. 
On April 1st, 1622, the Indians throughout the tide 
water region fell upon the scattered settlers, and 
those who had come with Tracy, as the advance guard 
of his colonizing scheme, suffered grievously. Of the 
fifty who arrived on the Supply more than half fell 
by the hand of treachery. The massacre fell without 
discrimination on all the scattered groups, but upon 
none more heavily than those from Gloucestershire, 
and included George Thorpe, Tracy's daughter Joyce 
and her husband, Captain Nathaniel Powel. There 
was mourning in Gloucestershire, from Stow-on-the- 
wold to Bristol, for with the directing energy de- 
parted, the survivors of the ill-fated expedition were 
left to battle unaided in the wilderness of Virginia. 
Several gentlemen of the party, including Tracy's 
son Thomas, made their way back to England, 
Thomas Kemys remaining in charge of Berkeley 
Hundred. It was not long before the stream of im- 
migration again flowed towards the weakened settle- 
1 1 Lents and started them on the upward turn. From a 
struggling infant, Virginia gradually became self- 
supporting and then imperceptibly but surely passed 






THE BERKELEY HUNDRED COLONY 97 

into the column of colonies whose trade had become 
profitable to the mother country. 

Others came to take the places of Tracy and his 
kinsmen and to reap the profits of their well-planned 
schemes. The Indian had cast the die and lost, for 
though the general massacre throughout the colony 
had been admirably planned, it had failed of its pur- 
pose and resulted only in planting in the hearts of 
those colonists who escaped, a desire for revenge and 
for an assurance of future peace. This was only to 
be obtained by the extinction of the aboriginal Vir- 
ginian and the gradual substitution by emigration of 
a race become distinguished for its chivalrous gal- 
lantry, generous hospitality and inestimable services 
in carrying the torch of civilization far to the west 
and south, and in maintaining through three cen- 
turies the high ideals of government upon which 
other commonwealths have builded with a sense of 
absolute confidence and security. 



THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLONISTS. 

The thirty-five colonists who sailed from Bristol, 
England, in 1619, on the Margaret, Captain Tobias 
Felgate, and the fifty-eight who sailed from Bristol 
in 1620, on the Supply, Captain Tobias Felgate, were 
sent as the advance gnard to establish the town of 
Berkeley and lay out the plantations of Berkeley 
Hundred, for the colony of five hundred to be for- 
warded from time to time as vessels could be pro- 
cured. 

The original partners in the venture were Richard 
Berkeley, Sir William Throckmorton, John Smyth, 
M. P. for Midhurst, George Thorpe and a London 
tradesman named John Woodleefe. Throckmorton 
transferred his share to William Tracy, to whom the 
Virginia Company had given authority to colonize 
five hundred persons in Virginia. 

From records now available, the family connec- 
tions of the partners and of some of those sailing on 
the Supply is disclosed. Berkeley was a cousin and 
Throckmorton a kinsman of Tracy, whose mother 
was Anne Throckmorton. Samuel Trac}^, a cousin of 
William Tracy, had married Catherine, daughter of 



THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLONISTS 99 

Thomas Smyth, and Barbara Tracy, a daughter of 
Sir Paul aud niece of Samuel Tracv, married Rich- 
ard Smyth. 

At the date of early Virginia colonization the 
Tracy family was prominent in Gloucestershire. The 
Visitation of 1623 shows, in the generation under con- 
sideration, a Thomas and a William in each of the 
branches of the family, the Tracys of Stanwaye and 
the Tracys of Tudington. Sir Paul Tracy was at the 
head of the Stanwaye branch. 

John Smyth recorded an agreement of the partners 
in which reference is made to William Tracy as the 
brother of Sir Thomas Tracy. Histories of the colo- 
nial period refer to William Tracy as the son of Sir 
John Tracy. Sir John Tracy of the Tudington 
branch had three sons, Thomas, John and William. 
William Tracy, who organized the expedition which 
sailed on the Supply, was the son of Sir John Tracy 
and his wife Anne Throckmorton. 

On the eve of sailing, William Tracy was embar- 
rassed with the unusual expense arising from delay 
and among those who hastened to his relief were his 
cousins, Timothy Yate and John Bridges. One of 
the Yate family was the husband of Margaret Berke- 
ley, granddaughter of Sir Robert Berkeley, knight, 
a brother of Thomas Lord Berkeley. Henry Tracy, 
grandfather of William Tracy, married Elizabeth 



100 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Bridges. A daughter of Edmund Crewe married 
John Bridges, and another descendant, Richard 
Crewe, married later, in 1658, Eleanor, daughter of 
William Laurance of Sherdington, Gloucestershire, 
which will be referred to in another connection later. 

The court records show that on the 7th October, 
1()20, Richard Yate married Bridget Carter. The 
wife of William Carter, son of John of Lower Swell, 
was named Bridget, and it was probably her daugh- 
ter. Yate was a kinsman of both Tracy and Berkeley. 

Much evidence exists to show that the party which 
sailed on the Supply was made up from Gloucester- 
shire families, many of which were akin, or connected 
by marriage. Amongst the items entered in the ac- 
counts incident to outfitting the ship Supply is one 
for transporting twenty persons who went with 
Tracy from Hayles to Bristol. 

Among the post mortem inquisitions of Gloucester- 
shire is one relating to the property of John Carter 
who, at his death, " was seized as of fee of the manor 
of Lower Swell, late parcel of the possessions of the 
Bishop of London, and sometime belonging to the 
dissolved monastery of Hayles; * * * all the tithes 
of the premises which lately belonged to the dissolved 
Monastery of J Iayles.' : A n examination of the docu- 
ment in its relation to family connections shows that 
Giles (artci 1 , the son and heir of John Carter, mar- 



THE GLOUCESTEESHIKE COLONISTS 101 

ried Elizabeth, daughter of Paul Tracy, Esq., who 
appears later as Sir Paul Tracy of Stanwaye, having 
been created a baronet in 1611. Paul was a first 
cousin of Thomas, John and William Tracy of 
Tudington. 

John Carter was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 
10 January, 1612. At the time of the organization of 
the expedition by William Tracy, John Carter re- 
sided at the manor of Low T er Swell, being also in pos- 
session of Cold Aston, Shipton, Charleton Abbotts 
and other estates in Overhampen, Compton and 
Badgworth. 

The will of Gyles Carter of Badgworth, Glouces- 
tershire, dated in 1585, appears amongst those in the 
Prerogative Court Canterbury wills (47 Brudenell). 
As John Carter died possessed of property in Badg- 
worth and named his eldest son Gyles, it is believed 
that Gyles of Badgworth was his father, but the will 
of Gyles has not yet been examined to determine this. 
Some of the Badgworth estates, together with Cold 
Aston and the demesne lands pertaining thereto, 
were deeded by John Carter to Elizabeth Tracy, wife 
of his son Giles Carter, as part of her dower during 
her life. 

John Carter married Mary, daughter of Robert 
Laurance of Shipton, and had issue : Giles m. Eliza- 
beth Tracy; John, Jr., m. Anna Partridge; William 



102 GILES CAKTEK OF VIRGINIA 

in. Bridget -; Anne m. Giles Broadway; 

Eleanor m. Humphrey Colles; Mary m. John More. 

The county records show that Giles Carter, Esq., 
son and heir of John, was the head of the family, 
after the death of his father in 1627. During the 
k ' Great Rebellion " Giles Carter was sequestered 
and compounded for £968 17s. A handsome monu- 
ment was erected to the memory of Giles Carter in 
the parish church of Cold Aston. In the parish 
church of Longney on the banks of the Severn, there 
is also a tablet containing an inscription in memory 
of the family of Giles and Elizabeth Carter. 

In the old parish church of Seavenhampton, which 
was built prior to 1147: " There are divers inscrip- 
tions in the bodv of the church, for the family of Car- 
ters of Charleton Abbotts." 

Among those who accompanied Tracy to Virginia 
on the Supply appear the names of Giles Carter and 
Giles Broadwav. The Visitation of Gloucestershire, 
1623, shows the marriage of Giles Carter and Eliza- 
beth Tracy, daughter of Paul Tracy; that of Giles 
Broadway and Anne Carter, a sister of Giles Carter; 
and the existence of Alexander Broadway, who was 
also named among those with Tracy. Giles and Anne 
< aricr Broadway had a son named Giles Broadway. 
As Giles Broadway, Si*., died in England 14th 
March, 1(>~>7, it was probably his son Giles who went 



THE GLOUCESTEESHIIJE COLONISTS 103 

to Virginia on the Supply, and was killed by the 
Indians. 

Among the names of Tracy's party are Arthur and 
Thomas Kemys, Gent. The Visitation of Gloucester- 
shire, 1623, shows both of these names. One of Wil- 
liam Tracy's ancestors married Margery Paunce- 
forte and Arthur Kemys married Anne Paunceforte, 
a niece of Margery. 

In the inquisition taken at Cirencester, in relation 
to property left by William Crewe, Gent., who died 
at Aldersleighe 3d October 12 Charles (1635), the 
names of Thomas Gibbs and Edmund Ferribie are 
found among the jurors ; two members of Tracy's ex- 
pedition bore these family names. Among other 
neighboring families were Oldsworth and Strange, 
both of which were represented in the list of colonists 
with Tracy on the Supply. 

John Smyth of Mbley preserved a list of colonists 
on the Supply who escaped the massacre and of those 
who returned to England, among the latter being 
Giles Carter and William Tracy's young son Thomas. 

It has been shown that John Bridges, William 
Tracy's cousin, married a daughter of Edmund 
Crewe, and that a descendant of this marriage, Rich- 
ard Bridges, married, in 1658, Eleanor Laurance, 
daughter of William Laurance of Sherdington, 
Gloucestershire. William Laurance was the son of 



1"! GILES CARTEE OF \ IK<M\IA 

Roberl Laurance <»(' Shipton and Eleanor Stratford, 
Ins second wife. Mary Laurance, wife of John Car- 
ter of Lower Swell and mother of Giles Carter, who 
married Elizabeth Tracy, was a daughter of Robert 
Laurance by his first wife, and therefore a half sister 
lo William Laurance, who is mentioned with his 
brother Robert in the inquisition on John Carter's 
estate. 

The ( Jrewe family was widely dispersed in Glouces- 
tershire and that they were closely connected whli the 
Carter family appears quite certain from various 
records. The will of Francis Crewe, brother of Col- 
onel James ( 're we of Virginia., and rather of Mat hew 
( Yewe, is filed at Bristol under date of 1673. Mathew 
( Yewe was appointed by < 'olonel James ( Yewe as his 
administrator. The parish registers show that 
Mathew Crewe, of Wooten-under-Edge, married 
Esther Trotman of Cam 30 December, 1672. The 
Trotmans of Cam descended from a marriage; be- 
tween Nicholas Trotman, who died in 1077, and Cecil I 
( 'a rter, daughter of Giles ( 'arter. 

It is shown elsewhere in this memoir that when 
Colonel James Crewe was tried by court-martial at 
Green Spring and sentenced to be hung for partici- 
pation in Bacon's Rebellion, he made generous be- 
quests to Giles and Hannah < iarter and their children, 
then living at Turkey Island, Virginia, and asked 



THE fJLOlX'KSTKKSirrRE COLON I S'J - L06 

that his loving friend Giles Carter command his ser- 
vants and live in his house, the executor appointed by 
Crewe, his cousin Matthew Crewe, being then in Eng- 
land. Tobacco was the currency of the colony and 
the generous bequests of Colonel dairies Crewe to 
Giles Carter and his family, including 10,000 pounds 
of tobacco to each of Giles Carter's daughters, would 
hardly have been made except to kinsmen. 

It has not been discovered who were the parents of 
Giles Carter who was horn in 1634 arid was with 
Colonel James Crewe in Virginia just prior to his 
trial by court-martial. None of the lists of passen- 
gers, except that of the Supply, 1620-21, contains the 
name of Giles Carter, nor does it appear on any of 
the fragmentary census records published, of those 
living in Virginia during the early colonial period. 
The only known record of his birth is a sworn state- 
ment, in court, of his age, showing the date of his 
birth as 1634. 

A general examination of the Gloucestershire, 
England, records leads to the conclusion that many 
of the inhabitants emigrated to America, as a, result 
of the long '-ivil wars, and it was from the Gloucester- 
shire contingent in Virginia that Bacon drew many 
of his supporters in the so-called Bacon's Rebellion. 

Laurance, a graduate of Oxford, who had been de 
prived of his Virginia property under flimsy pre 



106 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

tence of law by Governor Berkeley, was one of those 
marked for the gallows, but he escaped and plunged 
into the forests with several companions and re- 
turned no more to the settlements. The Virginia rec- 
ords do not show the English parentage of Laurance. 
The wife of John Carter of Lower Swell, Gloucester- 
shire, was named Mary Laurance ; they were the par- 
ents of Gyles Carter who married Elizabeth Tracy. 
There were many members of the Laurance family in 
Gloucestershire at that period. 

The name Giles, or as sometimes spelled Gyles, 
Carter appears in no other branch of the Carter fam- 
ily in England or Virginia, which has come under the 
observation of the writer, except those from Glouces- 
tershire. The English records prior to 1550 are very 
meager, but since that time down to about 1800 the 
name of Giles appears constantly in this family of 
Carters in England and Virginia. The names of 
John and William, habitually used in the Gloucester- 
shire families, have for three centuries been perpetu- 
ated in America in the families descended from Giles 
and Hannah Carter. 

It appears quite certain that Giles Carter, born in 
1634, whose will was executed in 1699 in Virginia, 
was descended from the Gloucestershire branch of 
Carters, and that possibly the record of his birth 
and parentage may yet be discovered. The family 



THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLONISTS 10? 

connection of Tracys, Carters and Crewes of Glou- 
cestershire, and perpetuation of the Christian name 
of Giles, John and William, all tend to prove circum- 
stantially that of which direct evidence is still 
lacking. 



GENEALOGY. 

The Direct Line. 

Giles ' Carter, born 1634; died 1699-1700; m. Han- 
nah ; had issue ; second generation : 

I. Theodrick 2 (First) ; m. Elizabeth . 

II. Susannah 2 ; in. Thomas Williamson. 

III. Mary 2 ; m. Thomas Davis. 

IV. Ann 2 ; m. James Davis. 
V. Giles 2 . = / 






Theodrick 2 Carter (First), son of Giles ' and Han- 
nah Carter; born before 1676; died 1737; m. Eliza- 
beth ; had issue; third generation : 

I. Theodrick 3 (Second); m. Anne Waddill. 

II. John 3 ; m. Elizabeth . 

III. Anne 3 . 

IV. Susannah 3 . 
V. Martha 3 . 

VI. Mary 3 . 

VII. Elizabeth 3 . 

. 
Theodrick 8 (Second), son of Theodrick 1 ' (First) 

and Elizabeth Carter; born ; died 1777; m. Anne 

Waddill ; had issue; fourth generation : 



GENEALOGY 109 

I. Susannah 4 ; m. Stubblefield. 

II. John 4 ; m. Mary . 

III. Theodrick 4 (Third); m. first Miss Townes; 

second Judith Cunningham. 

IV. William 4 . 

V. Richard 4 ; m. . 

VI. Anne Waddill 4 ; m. Thompson. 

VII. Waddill 4 ; m. Mildred Wade. 
VIII. Molly 4 . 
IX. Sally 4 . 
X. Samuel 4 . 

John % son of Theodrick 3 (Second) and Anne Car- 
ter; born 26 August, 1737; died 1781; m. Mary 

; had issue ; fifth generation : 

I. Anne Waddill 5 ; m. Waddill. 

II. Elizabeth 5 . 

III. Mary 5 . 

IV. Judith 5 . 
V. Sally 5 . 

VI. Richard 5 . 
VII. Theodrick 5 (Fourth). 
VIII. Robert 5 ; m. Unity Cook. 
IX. James 5 ; m. Amy Motley. 
X. Francis Watkins 5 ; m. Sarah Holcomb An- 
derson. 



110 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Robert 5 , son of John 4 and Mary Carter ; born 22 
December, 1770; died 9 September, 1839; m. Unity 

Cook; born 1774; died 8 September, 1809; bad 

issue; sixth generation: 

I. Sarah ° Venable ; born 1793 ; died 1843 ; m. Da- 
vid H. Guthrie. 
II. Henry" Cook; born 1795; died 1820; served 
War 1812, northern frontier ; no issue. 

III. John ° Blackgrove ; born 10 November, 1797 ; 

died 28 December, 1847; served with Gen- 
eral Jackson, New Orleans, War of 1812 ; no 
issue. 

IV. Robert ° Michaux; born 1799; died 28 August, 

1831; served with General Jackson, New 
Orleans, War of 1812 ; no issue. 
V. Polly 6 ; born 22 December, 1800 ; died 7 Janu- 
ary, 1875 ; m. Thomas Reynolds. 
VI. Samuel Jefferson; born 3 January, 1803; 
died 31 March, 1873; m. first, Eliza Staggs; 
second, Anne Vaulx. 
VII. Alexander Cunningham; born 14 March, 
1807; died 8 September, 1884; m. Mildred 
Staggs. 

Samuel ° Jefferson, son of Robert B and Unity Cook 
Cartel-; horn 3 January, 1803; died 31 March, 1873; 



GENEALOGY 111 

m. first, Eliza Staggs; bom 10 December, 1810; had 
issue ; seventh generation : 

I. Watson 7 M. ; born 16 December, 1826 ; died 
3 May, 1828 ; no issue. 
II. Jordan 7 B. ; born 14 November, 1828 ; died 
12 May, 1843 ; no issue. 

III. Eliza 7 S. ; born 3 May, 1831 ; died 10 Janu- 

ary, 1881 ; m. Thomas P. Johnson. 
Samuel c Jefferson Carter m. second, Anne Vaulx, 
who was born 18 June, 1818; died 15 August, 1874; 
had issue : 

IV. Warren 7 ; born 6 February, 1834 ; died 8 

May, 1902 ; no issue. 
V. Hays 7 ; born 3 August, 1835 ; no issue. 
VI. Watkins 7 Leigh; born 21 July, 1836; died 
10 June, 1856 ; no issue. 
VII. Charles 7 Vaulx ; born 20 January, 1840 ; 
died 23 July, 1861 ; no issue. 
VIII. Samuel 7 J. ; born 13 December, 1841 ; died 
18 September, 1842. 
IX. Laura 7 O. ; born 22 August, 1843 ; m. first, 
Captain J. B. Holloway, U. S. A. ; second, 
Colonel Edward Langford, late U. S. 
Volunteers. 
X. Irene 7 M.; born 29 May, 1846; m. first, 
John T. McCrory ; second, Elisha D. Ben- 
son; third, T. M. Measles. 



112 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

XI. Samuel 7 J. ; born 28 June, 1849 ; died 9 Sep- 
tember, 1893; no issue. 
XII. William 7 Giles Harding ; born 19 Novem- 
ber, 1851; mounted messenger Civil War, 
1864; graduate West Point Class 1873; 
Brigadier General regular army; m. Ida 
Dawley. 
XIII. Anne 7 C. ; born 23 May, 1853 ; died 27 Janu- 
ary, 1901 ; m. Dr. Charles Terry. 
XIV. Frank 7 C; born 27 April, 1856; m. Kate 
Blair. 
XV. Ella 7 W. ; born 16 November, 1858 ; m. W. J. 
Henderson. 
XVI. Vaulx 7 ; born 14 August, 1861; m. Isabel 
Olcott Moore. 
XVII. Mary ' Hays ; born 28 October, 1863 ; died in 
infancy. 

William 7 Giles Harding, son of Samuel 6 Jefferson 
and Anne Vaulx Carter; born 19 November, 1851 ; m. 
27 October, 1880, Ida Dawley, who was born 13 April, 
1 860 ; had issue ; eighth generation : 
I. William 8 Vaulx; born 30 January, 1883; gradu- 
ate West Point, Class 1904; Lieutenant Sixth 
U. S. Cavalry; m. Helen Cornyn Hunter. 
II. Leigh 8 Hays; born 23 October, 1884; died 27 
August, 1907. 



GENEALOGY 11! 



The Collateral Lines. 



No systematic effort has been made to trace all the 
descendants of Giles * and Hannah Carter. The 
writer has been asked, frequently, concerning indi- 
viduals believed to be descendants of this family, and 
he has, therefore, inserted the incomplete records so 
far as they have become known to him. 

The will of Giles 2 Carter (Second) has not been 
found, although the parish records show that he long 
resided in Henrico County. The will of Benjamin 
Carter makes it appear probable that he was a son of 
Giles 2 Carter (Second). No absolute evidence of 
that fact has yet been found. Giles 2 Carter (Sec- 
ond) was the only brother of Theodrick 2 (First). 
John 3 Carter was the only brother of Theodrick 3 
(Second). The descendants of John 3 constitute the 
collateral lineage bearing the Carter name, next after 
the descendants of Giles 2 Carter (Second). 

John 3 , son of Theodrick 2 (First) and Elizabeth 

Carter; born ; died 1785; m. Elizabeth ; 

had issue ; fourth generation : 

I. Theodrick 4 ; m. (Believed to have mar- 
ried Molly Eelbank, Lunenburg County, 
Virginia, 10 November, 1763). 

II. John 4 ; m. Anne . 

III. Frances 4 ; m. Mr. Walton, Charlotte County, 
Virginia. 



111 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 



IV. William 4 : m. 



V. Sherwood 4 ; m. Frances 
VI. Jacob 4 ; m. Mary 



John 4 , son of John 3 and Elizabeth Carter; born 
died 1800; m. Anne ; had issue; fifth 



generation : 

I. Betsy 5 ; m. Eppes (son Temple Eppes 

mentioned in will). 
II. Polly 5 P. 

Sherwood \ son of John 3 and Elizabeth Carter ; 

born - - ; died 1797 ; m. — Frances ; had 

issue; fifth generation: 
I. Joseph 5 . 

II. William 5 ; m. (son Robert mentioned 

in will). 

III. Betsy 5 ; m. Brackett (d. Frances men- 

tioned in will). 

IV. Theodrick 5 ; m. Ann . 

V. Samuel 5 . 

VI. John 5 . 

Jacob 4 , son of John 3 and Elizabeth Carter; born 
; died ; m. Mary ; had issue; fifth 



generation : 

I. Betsy 5 Grannaway. 
II. John 5 . 



GENEALOGY 115 

Benjamin Carter, believed to be a son of Giles 2 

Carter (Second), was born ; died 1796-9; m. 

Elizabeth ; bad issue : 

I. Theodriek. 
II. TabithaC. B. (Betsy). 

III. Luesy. 

IV. Nancy. 
V. Frankey. 

Theodridv Carter, son of ; born ; died 

1809-11 ; m. Ann ; bad issue: 

I. Kitty. 
II. Theodriek B. 
III. Anne (Nancy). 

It is not known whether the Theodriek from whose 
will this information was taken, was a son of Sher- 
wood or of Benjamin Carter. , 

All the foregoing, relating to collateral lineage, 
was obtained from wills recorded in Henrico County, 
Virginia. That which follows pertains to the de- 
scendants of Theodriek 3 (Second) and Anne Carter 
of St. Patrick's Parish, Prince Edward County, Vir- 
ginia, and not previously shown in the direct line of 
descent. Theodriek 3 (Second) and Anne Carter had 
six sons, John, Theodriek, William, Richard, Wad- 
dill and Samuel. The will of William has not been 
found. That of John is given in the direct line. 



116 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

Theodrick 4 (Third), of Halifax County, Virginia, 
son of Theodrick 3 (Second) and Anne Waddill Car- 
ter ; born - - ; died 1805 ; m. first, Miss Townes ; sec- 
ond, Judith Cunningham; had issue; fifth genera- 
tion : 

I. Charles 5 ; m. Miss Barksdale. 

II. Townes 5 ; no issue. 

III. Thomas 5 . 

IV. Jessee 5 . 

V. Elizabeth 5 ; m.' Richardson. 

VI. William 5 ; m. Miss Stamps. 
VII. Samuel 5 ; m. first, Susannah Bibb; second, 
Elizabeth Bibb. ' 
VIII. Nathaniel 5 ; m. Ann O. Stevens. 
IX. Susanna 5 ; m. Mathew Cabaniss. 
X. John 5 . 
XI. Ann 5 ; m. Richard E. Bennett. 
XII. Alexander 5 ; m. Peggie (Margaret) Stevens. 

Richard \ of Halifax County, Virginia, son of 
of Theodrick 8 (Second) and Anne Waddill Carter; 
born - - ; died ; m. ; had issue ; fifth gen- 
eration : 

I. Richard B . 
II. Samuel \ 
III. Nancy 5 . 



GENEALOGY 117 

Waddill % of Prince Edward County, Virginia, son 
of Theodrick 3 (Second) and Anne Waddill Carter; 

born ; died 1782 ; m. Mildred Wade ; had issue ; 

fifth generation: 
I. James \ 

II. Theodrick 5 . 

III. John 5 . 

IV. Daughter. 
V. Daughter. 

Samuel 4 , of Prince Edward County, Virginia, son 
of Theodrick 8 (Second) and Anne Waddill Carter; 

born ; died 1830; m. ; had issue; fifth 

generation : 

I. William 5 M. 
II. Edward A. 
III. Margaret 5 E. ; m. John P. Mittauer. 

Samuel 5 , of Halifax County, Virginia, son of 
Theodrick 4 (Third) and Judith Cunningham Car- 
ter ; born 21 November, 1773 ; died ; m. first, Su- 
sannah Bibb; no issue; m. second, Elizabeth Hol- 
combe Bibb ; had issue ; sixth generation : 

I. Virginia 6 S. B. ; born 2 May, 1814; m. John C. 
Cabaniss. 
II. John c Halifax ; born 18 January, 1816 ; m. 
Judith D. Mennaly. 



118 GILKS CAKTKIJ OF VIRGINIA 

III. Elizabeth" Cunningham; born 14 February, 

1820; m. Charles B. Talieferro. 
IV. America" Bedford; born 14 February, 1820; 
m. William G. Morton. 
Y. Louisiana" Franklin; born 26 June, 1822; m. 
Thomas D. Neal. 
VI. Missouri " ; born 8 September, 1824 ; m. Robert 
D. Saunders. 
VII. Samuel"; born 19 March, 1827; served in 
Texas Rangers, Mexican War ; no issue. 
VIII. Philemon 6 B. ; born 3 July, 1831 ; m. Martha 
W. Motley. 
IX. Mary 6 M.; born 10 July, 1831; m. A. G. 
Walters. 

Nathaniel 5 , of Halifax County, Virginia, son of 
Theodrick 4 (Third) and Judith Cunningham Car- 
ter; born 2 August, 1775; died ; m. Ann O. Ste- 
vens; had issue; sixth generation: 

I . Martha " B. ; m. Bostick. 

I I . Margaret ' B. ; m. Averett. 

III. Sarah ° B. 
IV. Samuel 6 . 
V. James fi S. 
VI. Thomas 6 T. 

Alexander", of Halifax County, Virginia, son of 
Theodrick 3 and Judith Cunningham Carter; born 



GENEALOGY 119 

; died ; m. Margaret B. Stevens; had issue; 

sixth generation : 
I. Judith 6 C. 
II. Ann 6 O. ; m. Thomas S. Laird. 

III. Robert 6 S. 

IV. Theodrick 6 . 
V. John 6 . 

VI. Catherine 6 ; m. Lovick Webb. 
VII. Maria 6 ; m. Richard E. Bennett. 

James 5 , son of John 4 and Mary Carter, of Halifax 

County, Virginia; born ; died April 17, 1845; 

m. Amy Motley ; had issue ; sixth generation : 
I. Jessee 6 . 
II. Martha 6 . 

III. Mary 6 . 

IV. Susan 6 . 
V. Judith 6 . 

VI. John 6 C. 
VII. Joseph G M. 
VIII. Anne 6 . 
IX. Prudence 6 . 

Francis Watkins 5 , son of John 4 and Mary Carter, 
of Halifax County, Virginia, born December 6, 1772 ; 
died March 19, 1841; married November 17, 1794, 



s 120 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

S a rail Holcomb Anderson, who was born Ma}^ 11, 

1777, and died May 19, 1826, and had issue; sixth 1 

generation : 

I. Fountain (Fontaine) Branch 6 ; born April 6, 
1797 ; died August 22, 1871 ; m. Mary Armis- 
stead Atkinson. 
II. Elizabeth ° ; born December 8, 1799 ; died July 
31, 1856; m. Eelbeck. 

III. Theodrick " (Fifth) ; born July 22, 1802 ; died 

November 23, 1833. 

IV. John 6 C; born September 6, 1805; died No- 

vember 1, 1869. 
V. Susan''; born March 30, 1808; died January 

8, 1866; married Eelbeck. 

VI. Lucy 6 W.; born February 9, 1811; died Au- 

gust 9, 1868 ; married Crouch. 

VII. Roche 6 M.; born February 27, 1814; died 
November 25, 1866 ; married Rogers. 

Fountain Branch 6 , son of Francis Watkins and 
Sarah Anderson Carter; born April 6, 1797; died 
August 22, 1871 ; married Mary Armistead Atkinson, 
granddaughter of John Atkinson, a Revolutionary 
soldier. Mary Atkinson was born July 4, 1806 ; died 
September 15, 1852; had issue; seventh generation: 
I. Nisau Red 7 ; born March 29, 1824 ; died Sep- 
tember 25, 1827. 



GENEALOGY 121 

II. Moscow Branch 7 ; born December 5, 1825 ; 
married first, Orlena C. Dobbins; second, 
America V. Cattels ; third, Pamale E. Miot 
(widow) ; served in the Mexican War in 
Colonel Campbell's regiment. Served as 
lieutenant colonel 20th Tennessee Infantry, 
C. S. A., Civil War. 
III. Orlander Hortensius 7 ; born May 24, 1827 ; 

died August 23, 1828. 
IV. William Augustus 7 ; born May 16, 1829 ; died 
October 15, 1830. 
V. James Fountain 7 ; born January 31, 1831 ; 

died August 15, 1859. 
VI. Samuel Atkinson 7 ; born January 24, 1833 ; 

died June 10, 1837. 
VII. Mary Alice 7 ; born January 22, 1833 ; died Oc- 
tober 12, 1869 ; married McPhail. 

VIII. Sarah Holcomb 7 ; born February 23, 1837 ; 

died July 15, 1868 ; married Gordon. 

IX. Annie Vick 7 ; born November 16, 1838 ; died 

June 2, 1901 ; married Baltishwiler. 

X. Theodrick Carter 7 (Sixth); born March 24, 
1840 ; died December 2, 1864, of wounds re- 
ceived in battle of Franklin, Tenn., while 
serving as captain and A. D. C, Confed- 
erate Army, Civil War. 



122 GILES CARTER OF VIRGINIA 

X I. Francis Watkins 7 ; born November 30, 1842 ; 
served in 20th Tennessee Infantry, 0. S. A., 
until disabled by wounds, battle of Shiloh, 
Civil War. 
XII. Frances Hodge 7 ; born August 3, 1844 ; died 
October 6, 1901 ; married Gordon. 

Alexander Cunningham Carter 6 , son of Robert '"' 
and Unity Cook Carter, born March 14, 1807; died 
September 8, 1884 ; married Mildred Staggs, who was 
born December 6, 1812 ; died January 17, 1891 ; had 
issue ; seventh generation : 

I. Medora Ann 7 ; born August 18, 1839 ; died 
February 1, 1865; married Doctor Joseph 
L. Stephens October 27, 1863. 
II. Ellen Cook 7 ; born August 22, 1841; died 
December 24, 1843 ; no issue. 
^III. Robert Alexander 7 ; born May 8, 1846 ; died 
July 19, 1875; married Alice Macey Decem- 
ber^, 1867. 
i V. John Jordan Carter 7 ; born December 6, 1848; 
died November 23, 1898. He was in San 
Francisco and had returned to the Baldwin 
Hotel after seeing his two nephews off for 
Manila with the 1st Tennessee Volunteers. 
The hotel took fire; he made his escape, but 
returned to assist some ladies, when he too 
was overcome by the smoke and was burned. 



GENEALOGY 123 

V. Ellen Cook 7 (Second); born March 6, 1854; 
married Robert Andrew Milam, December 
9, 1875. 
VI. Henry Felix 7 ; born May 7, 1857 ; died Janu- 
ary 23, 1895. 



THE AUTHOR. 

General William Giles Harding Carter was born 
near Nashville, Tennessee, November 19th, 1851. In 
1864, at twelve years of age, he entered the service of 
the Union Army in the Department of the Cumber- 
land as a mounted dispatch carrier. He was ap- 
pointed a cadet at West Point at sixteen years of 
age, and upon graduation in 1873, was assigned to 
duty on the western frontier, where he continued in 
active service for twenty-four years, participating 
in many Indian campaigns. He was several times 
recommended for brevet promotions and was 
awarded a Medal of Honor by Congress " for distin- 
guished bravery in action against hostile Apache 
Indians in rescuing the wounded from under a heavy 
fire.' ; His services brought him into contact with 
many tribes of Indians from Dakota to the Mexican 
border at a time when the country west of the Mis- 
souri River was a vast hunting ground. While still 
in the grade of lieutenant he was the subject of an 
older from the headquarters of his regiment, the 
Sixth Cavalry, from which the following extracts are 
taken: " The Colonel of the regiment takes this op- 




GENERAL WILLIAM GILES HARDING CARTER 

BORN DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE 
19 NOVEMBER, 1851 



THE AUTHOR 125 

portunity to bear testimony to the many sterling- 
qualities of Lieutenant Carter as an officer, a gentle- 
man and a man. * * * He was adjutant as well as 
quartermaster during the summer of '81, and on the 
Cibicu Campaign, and displayed the most conspicu- 
ous and distinguished gallantry in the battles of the 
Cibicu, August 30th, and of Fort Apache, September 
1st, 1881." 

He commanded his troop as a captain of cav- 
alry in the last campaign on the Plains and partici- 
pated in the last Indian fight, on January 1st, 1891, 
near the mouth of Wounded Knee Creek, South Da- 
kota, being recommended for brevet major for his 
services in action. In 1893 he was detailed as an in- 
structor in the Cavalry Department of the Infantry 
and Cavalry School for officers. In 1897 he was se- 
lected from the list of captains by President Cleve- 
land and promoted as major in the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral's Department. When he reached the grade of 
colonel he was selected by President Roosevelt as 
brigadier-general. A few days later he was the sub- 
ject of an unusual order: 

" War Department, 
Washington, July 21, 1902. 
" It is ordered that Brigadier-General William H. 
Carter, U. S. Army, be, and he is, hereby detailed to 

9 



126 GILES CAETEE OF VIRGINIA 

act as Adjutant-General of the Army during any ab- 
sence of the Adjutant-General from this day to the 
1st of November, 1902. 

(Signed) Elihu Root, 

Secretary of War." 

General Carter was a member of the first Army 
War College Board and a member of the first Gen- 
eral Staff of the Army. He was employed by the 
Secretary of War in devising a reorganization of the 
army. His services in bringing about the organiza- 
tion of the General Staff were generously mentioned 
by the Secretary of War in his annual report in this 
language : 

" Special credit is due to Brigadier-General Wil- 
liam H. Carter for the exceptional ability and untir- 
ing industry which he has contributed to the work of 
devising, bringing about, and putting into operation 
the general staff law. He brought thorough and pa- 
tient historical research and wide experience, both 
in the line and the staff, to the aid of long-continued, 
anxious and concentrated thought upon the problem 
of improving military administration, and if the new 
system shall prove to be an improvement the gain to 
the country will have been largely due to him. ' ; 

While serving as assistant chief of staff, General 
( Jarter was sent to England and France to study the 



THE AUTHOE 127 

systems of supplying horses to the armies of those 
countries. Upon completion of this duty he was as- 
signed to command the Department of the Visayas 
in the Philippine Islands, and while there was in 
charge of a brigade quelling an insurrection in the 
Island of Samar. Upon returning to the United 
States, after circumnavigating the globe, he was as- 
signed to command the Department of the Lakes. 
While serving in that department General Carter 
commanded the joint maneuver camps of the regular 
army and national guard in 1906 and 1908. In De- 
cember, 1908, he was assigned to command the De- 
partment of the Missouri with headquarters at 
Omaha, and was relieved early in the following year 
and ordered to duty in the Philippine Islands. • 

General Carter is the author of " Horses, Saddles 
and Bridles," a book adopted by the War Depart- 
ment for use of the army and at West Point ; " From 
Yorktown to Santiago "; " Old Army Sketches, ' ; 
and numerous professional and literary articles in 
the North American Review, Scribner's, Harper's 
and other publications. 



INDEX. 



Adcock, 42 

Allen, 41, 81 

Anderson, 30, 109, 120 

Atkinson, 120 

Austin, 70 

Averett, 118 

Bacon, 20, 34, 35, 36, 105 

Bailey, 93 

Baird, 22 

Baker, 92 

Ballard, 34 

Baltishwiler, 121 

Banks, 81 

Barksdale, 116 

Bates, 49, 61 

Baugh, 93 

Bengany, 41 

Bennett, 21, 22, 82, 116, 119 

Benson, 111 

Berkeley, 20, 34, 35, 36, 37, 86, 87. 
89, 94, 98, 99, 100, 106 

Bibb, 116, 117 

Binford, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75 

Blackgrove, 78 

Blair, 112 

Booker, 82 

Bostick, 118 

Boyd, 49, 61 

Brackett, 71, 75, 114 

Bridges, 99, 100, 103 

Broadway, 93, 102 

Bugg, 66 

Bushell, 41 



Cabaniss, 82, 116, 117 
Campbell, 121 
Carrington, 61 

Carter, Alexander, 51, 82, 110, 116, 
118, 122 
America, 118 
Ann, 21, 43, 55, 60, 71, 108, 116, 

119 
Anne, 26, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52 
53, 69, 70, 78, 102, 108, 109, 
112, 115, 116, 117, 119, 121 
Armistead, 74 

Benjamin, 71, 72, 75, 113, 115 
Betsy, 69, 70, 71, 72, 114 
Catherine, 119 
Cecill, 104 
Charles, 49, 52, 61, 75, 82, 111, 

116 
Cleave, 20, 49, 52, 61 
Dandridge, 76 
Edward, 19, 20, 82, 117 
Eleanor, 102 
Eliza, 52, 111 

Elizabeth, 45, 46, 47, 49, 53, 57, 
60, 69, 71, 75, 77, 82, 83, 
102, 108, 109, 113, 114, 116, 

118, 120 
Ella, 52, 112 
Ellen, 122, 123 
Fountain, Fontaine, 120 
Frances, 71, 75, 76, 113, 122 
Francis, 30, 49, 50, 51, 60, 109. 

119, 120, 122 
Frank, 52, 53, 112 



130 



INDEX 



Carter, Frankey, 72, 115 

Frederick, 75 

Giles, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 
25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 
40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 53, 54, 55, 
56, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67. 72. 
73, 74, 77, 83, 93, 100, 101, 
102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 

108, 113, 115 

Hannah, 18, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 
44, 53, 54, 55, 56, 64, 83. 
104, 106, 108, 113 

Hays, 52, 111 

Henry, 50, 110, 123 

Ida, 53 

Irene, 52, 111 

Jacob, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 114 

James, 49, 51, 60, 73, 80, 109 
117, 118, 119, 121 

Jessee, 82, 116, 119 

John, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24, 28, 
29, 30, 33, 42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 
49, 50, 53, 57, 58, 60, 61, 63, 
66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74. 
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 100, 
101, 102, 104, 106, 107, 108, 

109, 110, 113, 114, 115, 116, 

117, 119, 120, 122 
Jordan, 52, 111 
Joseph, 71, 76, 114, 119 
Judith, 21, 49, 60, 82, 109, 117, 

118, 119 
Kitty, 71, 115 
Laura, 52, 111 
Leigh, 52, 112 
Louisa, 75 
Louisiana, 118 
Lucy, 120 
Luesy, 115 
Margaret, 82, 117, lis 



Carter, Maria, 22, 119 

Martha, 46, 75, 76, 108, 118, 

119 
Mary, 39, 43, 45, 46, 49, 51, 52. 

53, 54, 55, 57, 60, 61, 69, 

102, 108, 109, 110, 112, 118, 

119, 120, 121 
Medora, 122 
Mildred, 80 
Missouri, 118 
Molly, 47, 58, 59, 109 
Moscow, 121 
Moses, 70 

Nancy, 51, 71, 72, 75, 115, 116 
Nathaniel, 29, 30, 82, 116, 118 
Nissau, 120 
Orlander, 121 
Philemon, 118 
Polly, 50, 70, 110. 114 
Prudence, 119 
Rebecca, 76 
Richard, 30, 47, 49, 50, 51, 58, 

60, 61, 79, 109, 115, 116 
Robert, 19, 29, 30, 49, 50, 51, 

53, 60, 63, 71, 75, 78, 109, 

110, 119, 122 
Roche, 120 

Sally, 47, 49, 58, 59, 60, 109 
Samuel, 26, 30, 47, 50, 51, 52, 

53, 58, 59, 71, 75, 76, 79, 80, 

81, 82, 109, 110, 111. 112, 

114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 121 
Sarah, 50, 70, 110, 118, 120, 121 
Sewell, 74 
Sherwood, 69, 70, 71, 75, 76, 

114 
Susan, 39, 54, 119, 120 
Susannah, 42, 44, 46, 55, 75, 82, 

108, 109, 116 
Tabitha, 115 



INDEX 



131 



Carter, Theodrick, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 
28, 29, 30, 39, 42, 44, 45, 46, 
47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 
57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 
65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72. 
75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83 
108, 109, 113, 114, 115, 116, 
117, 118, 119, 120, 121 
Thomas, 19, 82, 116, 118 
Tilitha, Tilletha, 75 
Townes, 82, 116 
Unity, 51, 53, 63, 122 
Vaulx, 52, 112 
Virginia, 117 
Waddill, 26, 30, 47, 58, 59, 79, 

80, 109, 115, 117 
Warren, 52, 111 
Watkins, 52, 111 
Watson, 52, 111 
William, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 30, 
31, 46, 47, 52, 53, 58, 68, 69, 
71, 74, 76, 79, 80, 82, 100 
106, 107, 109, 112, 114, 115, 
116, 117, 121, 124, 125, 126 
Cattels, 121 
Charlton, 80 
Childres, 76 
Claiborne, 26, 34, 41 
Clark, 42 
Clarke, 45, 47, 59 
Clay, 82 
Cleaves, 20 
Clyburn, 41 
Cocke, 12, 25, 40, 41, 44, 56, 58, 63, 

64, 65, 66, 67, 68 
Cocks, 41 
Coles, 81 
Colles, 102 
Combe, 92 
Comins, 29, 42 



Cook, 50, 51, 109, 110 

Cooke, 43 

Coopy, 93 

Cox, 27 

Crewe, Crewes, Crews, 34, 35, 36, 

37, 38, 39, 40, 54, 55, 62, 64, 

100, 103, 104, 105, 107 
Crouch, 120 

Cunningham, 51, 83, 109, 116 
Custis, 78 
Dale, 62 
Dalton, 93 
Davehill, 42 

Davis, 42, 43, 55, 56, 108 
Dawley, 52, 112 
De la Warr, 95 
Dobbins, 121 
Eelbank, 83, 113 
Eelbeck, 120 
Effingham, Baron of, 42 
Eggleston, 26, 36 
Ellyson, 25, 65, 66, 67 
Enroughty, 55 
Epperson, 26, 71 
Epps, Eppes, 26, 65, 68, 70, 114 
Ewins, 90 
Felgate, 90, 98 
Ferrell, 50 

Ferribie, Ferriby, 92, 103 
Ferris, 29, 42, 65, 68, 70 
Finche, 92 
Forehand, 55 
Franklin, 82 
Fussel, 71 
Gant, 42 

Garthright, 70, 73, 74, 76 
George, 75, 76 
Gibbes, Gibbs, 92, 103 
Gifford, 92 
Gilfort, 89 



132 



INDEX 



Goode, 76 

Gordon, 121, 122 

Green, 41 

Grendon, 37, 38 

Grevell, 92, 95 

Guthrie, 110 

Hall, 93 

Hallam, 38 

Harding, 30, 31 

Harrison, 2G, 66, 73, 82 

Harvey, 43 

Hatcher, 63 

Hawkins, 73 

Henderson, 112 

Heskins, 92 

Hickson, 42 

Hill, 34 

Hobson, 49, 61, 74 

Holcomb, 30 

Holison, 76 

Holland, 93 

Holloway, 111 

Holmden, 92 

Holmes, 41 

Hood, 28 

Howlett, 92 

Humphrey, 41 

Hunter, 112 

Jackson, 110 

Jelfe, 93 

Johnson, 111 

Jolley, 66 

Jones, 15, 16 

Keene, 92 

Kemys, 92, 93, 96, 103 

Laird, 119 

Langford, 111 

Laurance, 100, 101, 103, 104, lo:>, 

106 
Lawson, 58, 80 



Le Grand, 80, 81 
Lewis, 66, 75 
Lindsay, 76 
Linzey, 93 
Loatham, 45, 57 
Lockerson, 41 
Ludlow, 19 
Ludwell, 34 
Lund, 41 
Macey, 122 
Machames, 64 
Madison, 82 
Marable, 50 
Marshall, 41 
Martin, 41, 50 
Maynard, 72 
Mayo, 44 
McClernard, 22 
McCrory, 111 
McPhail, 121 
Meade, 25 
Measles, 111 
Mennaly, 117 
Michaux, 29, 30, 82 
Milam, 123 
Miller, 74 
Milton, 93 
Miot, 121 
Mittauer, 82, 117 
Moore, 112 
More, 102 
Morgan, 45 
Morris, 73 
Morton, 80, 81, 118 
Mosby, 65 
Mosely, 66 
Mossom, 78 
Motley, 109, 118. 119 
Mulleins, 43 
Neal, 118 



IXDEX 



133 



Newport, 85 

Norris, 42 - 

Oldsworth, 92, 103 

Orts, 41 

Owin, 66 

Page, 34, 93 

Palet, 89 

Parker, 85, 93 

Partridge, 101 

Passons, 66 

Paunceforte, 103 

Pawlett, 92 

Pemberton, 75 

Place, 37 

Pleasants, 29, 44, 45, 63, 64, 67, 68 

Pocahontas, 43 

Pory, 92, 93 

Powel, 95, 96 

Price, 41, 54 

Prosser, 92 

Purnell, 81 

Ramsey, 34 

Randolph, 26, 38, 40, 44, 81 

Reese, 42 

Reynolds, 110 

Richards, 41 

Richardson, 82, 116 

Ridley, 50, 60 

Rocketts, 73 

Roe, 94 

Rogers, 120 

Rolfe, 43 

Rolles, 93 

Root, 126 

Sands, 86 

Saunders, 118 

Scates, 22 

Scott, 80, 81 

Scruggs, 44 

Semple, 78 



Sewell, 42, 56 

Sherwood, 37 

Skipwith, 26 

Smaley, 43 

Smeethers, 41 

Smith, 73, 74, 84 

Smyth, 86, 87, 89, 90, 93, 94, 98. 
99, 103 

Smythes, 42, 56 

Spear, Spears, 45, 57, 58 

Staggs, 52, 110, 111, 122 

Stamps, 116 

Stephens, 122 

Stevens, 116, 118, 119 

Strange, 93, 103 

Stratford, 104 

Strong, 42 

Stuart, 15 

Stubblefield, 47, 58, 109 

Swallow, 42 

Talieferro, 118 

Taylor, 81 

Terry, 22, 112 

Thompson, 47, 58, 109 

Thorpe, 86, 87, 94, 96, 98 

Throckmorton, 86, 87, 94, 98, 99 

Townes, 83, 109, 116 

Tracy, 32, 33, 87, 88, 89, 90, 92, 
93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 
101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107 

Trotman, 104 

Trumbull, 22 

Turner, 49, 61 

Vaulx, 52, 110, 111 

Venable, 26, 29, 30, 47, 59, 80 

Waddell, Waddill, 28, 47, 48, 49, 59, 
61, 108, 109 

Wade, 26, 79, 80, 109, 117 

Waller, 42 

Walters, 118 



134 



INDEX 



Walton, 68, 69, 113 

Washington, 78 

Watkins, 29, 45, 47, 57, 58, 59, 61, 

66, 68, 73, 80 
Webb, Webbe, 46, 57, 73, 92, 119 
West, 34 
Wheeler, 41 
Whittingham, 37 
Wilkins, 29, 45, 93 



Williamson, 43, 44, 55, 58, 74, 108 

Wood, 73 

Woodleefe, 86, 93, 98 

Woodson, 29, 42, 66 

Worthy, 42 

Wyatt, 81 

Yate, 86, 99, 100 

Yeardley, 86, 87, 88, 92, 93 

Zollicofer, 27 



' 



^s 









r 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



I III I in 



021 549 410 A 



